TRADE TRAINING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 31, Issue 9, 11 December 1945, Page 2

TRADE TRAINING

TWO MORE CARPENTRY CENTRES LARGE NUMBER OF MEN . ASSISTED With the commencement of two new centres- —one at Hamilton at the end of this month and one at Hastings at the beginning of December, there Avill be 20 rehabilitation carpentry training centres, operating throughout the Dominion says a statement from the Rehabilitation Department. This includes the third carpentry centrc in Auckland, which commenced training early in September. So successful has been the first class in painting, paper-hanging and glazing that a second centre teaching this trade is to be opened in Wellington. An Auckland painting centre commenced operations at the end of las/i month and it is planned to start a similar class in Christchurch. The starting date for the Dunedin painting centre lias not yet been decided. Classes are to commence in bricklaying and plastering in both Auckland and Christchurch as soon as workshop accommodation is arranged. The finding of suitable accommodation is the main problem facing further extension of the Board's scheme of training, in the building trades by direct instruction methods.. With 'the completion of the third roof-Viflling class at the Petone centre it is not intended to continuc training men in that trade since it is considered thslt the needs of the trade will now be meV'. in the normal way. In spite of difficulties the number of men receiving direct instruction at the Board's centres was 971 as at September 30. Of these 912 were learning carpentry, and 51 taking courses in d'jher building trades. There were besides 115 learning carpentry and 100 learhi.ng other building trades on subsidy with private employers, making a total of 1303 at that daite training in some building ftrade under the Rehabilitation Board's schemes. Altogether there were 917 learning some trade or other on a subsidy basis. Other apart from building, were— Furniture trade 140; electrical trade 35; engineering and metal trades 138; motor trades 73; other mechanical 'trades 15; printing 29: footwear and leather trades. 44; textile and clothing trades 25; retail trades 34; foodstuffs 14; clerical and professional 15 and miscellaneous 50. Including 377 men at the branches of the Disabled Servicemen's Re-estab-lishment League and 17S who had been assisted to revive or resume their apprenticeships the total number of ex-servicemen who were receiving il'rade training as at September 30 was 2443. In addition, 959 had concluded training making a grand total of 3402.