Apprenticeship Commissioner Stresses Need For Better Relations With Employers

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 43, 4 May 1948, Page 3

Apprenticeship Commissioner Stresses Need For Better Relations With Employers

Mr McQueen', N;Z. Commissioner of Apprenticeships, stressed the need for standardisation of conditions of apprenticeship throughout the country and for a better relationship between employers and apprentices when he addressed Whakatane members of the motor and electrical trades in ’the Borough Chambers at Whakatane last week.

In the new legislation certain day school attendances were necessary, he continued, but it might be better to have a fortnight’s schooling in one stretch than a “bits and pieces” arrangement. It may be necessary too, to increase the proportion of apprentices to tradesmen where it was found necessary. Regional committees comprising three workers’ apprentices, three employers and one person conversant with educational matters. Local committees operated in an area of not more than 20 miles radius and were formed only when the number of apprentices necessitated it. It may be, said -Mr McQueen, that Whakatane might have only an advisory committee under the jurisdiction of the Rotorua or Tauranga committee. It was also necessary that each local committee have a member of the Labour Department as chairman.

Membership was voluntary but reasonable expenses and loss of wages due to attending meetings at the rate of 3/9 per hour were paid.

Each trade had its own committee, usaid Mr McQueen, and there was a need for personal control between committee members and apprentices. . He mentioned to members of electrical trades that he would endeavour to get a building and equipment for their . apprentices class.