APPRENTICE LAWS BEFORE HOUSE

Chronicle (Levin), 29 June 1946, Page 6

APPRENTICE LAWS BEFORE HOUSE

—Press Association

DETAILS OF BILL EXPLAINED

By Telegrapji-

.WELLINGTON, June 28. The recommendations of the Apprenticesliip Commission . which niade an inquiry into the working of the apprenticeship laws are given legislative effect by the Apprentices Aniendment Bill whicli was introduced and read a lirst time in the House of Kepresentatives today. The Acting-Minister of Labour (Mr. O'Brien) said the Bill would be referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Bill provides for the appointment of a commissioner of apprenticeship, distriet commissioners of apprcnticeship and New ; Zealand and distriet apprenticeship committees. Tlie commissioner sliull have all tlie funetions and duties and powers conferred by- the. principal Aet on tho Rcgistrar of Apprentices, and similarly distriet commissioners shall have tlie powers now exercised by distriet Registrars of Apprentices. Dominiou apprenticeship* committees consisting of representatives of the employers ancl workers may be appointed for any industry or group of industries concerned. The funetions of tliese committees will Be to estimate thc requirements of aii industry. in respect to the number of apprentices required to eusure that the 'requisite number of skilled tradesmen are being trained, and ,to recominend to the appropriate authorities the taking of steps considered necessary to achievo this." The committees are also empowered to applv to the Court of Arbitration for ofders govcrning ap prcnticesliips, To co-operate with tlie Department of Education to ensure tliat apprentices obtain the niaximum amount of cducationai training, to give eoiisidcration to the introduction of cducationai training during normal working hours, and to tho introduction of practical tests for eacli appreiiticu beforo the complction of his apprenticeship,

All apprenticeship committees, whether New Zealand or local, sliull consist of a chairman and scven other mcnibors, tlirce reprcsenting the 0111 ployers, threc tlie employces aud oio. shall be a. person convorsant with technical education. Thc Hill is to coinc into forcc al the beginning of ncxt year, after whicli date tho Arbitration Court shall uoi make an apprenticeship order for a specilicd locality, but only in respect of eacli industry or branch of industry foi the whole of New Zealand. Tlie Court may, ho'wever, insert special provisions in an apprenticeship) order which do not relate to the whole of New Zealand. The Bill states that 110 upprentice under the age of 18 years shall bo employed for more than 40 liours poi week or more than eiglit hours daily. However, if provisiou is made in the apprenticeship) order for the employment of such apiprenticcs 011 o\crtiiiic, it shall be lawful to do so within tho liinits prescribed in the order. The provisions of the Factories Aet niust be complied with in regard to apprentices working in factories. lf a comiiutteo considers an employer is unablo to give adequate training to an apprcnti'cc, he may bo .transfcrred to another employer willing and able to d so. Regulations niav be made for tlu payment of a lodging allowancc to an apprentico obliged to live away from liome to learn his trade. Such allowanccs shall be piaid out of the moueys appropriated by Parliament.