Hi Watchdog
Thank you for forwarding to me the comments of "Intergrated" on the Plumbers Forum. Good questions that deserve a detailed reply,  due to work commitments (two large Plumbing jobs to complete) I will do my best to respond in three weeks time.
In the mean time Intergrated may find the comments made in the house yesterday interesting, Link attached scroll down the speeches until you come to the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Amendment Bill 2013 starting with Raymond Huo.  The email below sent today also shows the corruption that tradespeople are watching unfold.


www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/Drafts/2/e/6/50HansY_20130704-Draft-transcript-Thursday-04-July-2013.htm

Intergrated: Consider this, why are you (if you are) funding the PG&DB? what goods and services do you receive? after all the NZ Government issues a License free for life (Subject to health discipline and first issue cost) to the pilot of the Air NZ plane that takes you around NZ and the World.   Why should you pay a disciplinary levy, it never existed for 100 years? after all no Member of Parliament pays a disciplinary levy from their personal income, yet they breach the law and we pay!!, (Google NZ members of Parliament convicted). Why should you pay an offence fee to prosecute un-registered people when un-registered people can buy the products and hire the tools from Companies like Bunnings, Mitre 10, Plumbing World etc, all making a profit aiding and abetting their clients to breach regulations with no liability.
The problem is that Tradespeople have been to nice for to long, the Dental Association advises it's members to aim for a cost recovery rate of $500.00 per hour, come on Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers, work smarter not harder.
Here is a tip, no longer provide a hourly charge out rate, do as your accountant or lawyer does, simply state and charge out as "Our Fee"  try it double your current rate. I was shocked to read in a previous Federation Newsletter how much other unqualified people are earning, we have a life and families to enjoy, start matching the charge out rates to the same amount of Professionals that Politicians compare us to.

Kind regards
Allan Day
Certifying Plumber / Drainlayer