APPRENTICESHIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 4

APPRENTICESHIP.

THE GBKMAN WAY. In. the course of nn interesting papet on apprenticeship read by Mr. A. Werner, of Christehurch,' at the Ironmasters' Conference held in the Cathedral City lust week, that, gentleman spoke at length on the German system "1 have no hesitation," he said,."in saying that the German system commends itself, and J liara > observed that the fixed term of rive yours of apprenticeship is not in most cases thn best inducement to being .ut a young man's talent.' Many of them take mora interest in sports than in their trade, because they do not realise I lie importunes of exertion, in qualifying for good tradesmen, nor do we giyc them the encouragement that we should, lu Germany, at least in the province of Saxony, examinations in skilled trades are held which enable . an'apprentice by diligent working to shorten his term of apprenticeship. An average period of four years in our trade, constitutes the term of apprenticeship, but that term may be sh.irleiied or lengthened according to the merit of the apprentice. The Hoard of Examiners usually consists of a president, three masters, and three journeymen (elected). They examine the apprentice both theoretically and practically, in the various branches, for iii Germany it is compulsory for an approntkc.to attend evening technical classes, which are of greit benefit both to the master and apprentice. Our present system does not encourage thrift and industry sufficiently, and there is no check on the boy who, either from laziness or shortsightedness, docs not make good use of his l.'iiio. He expects, alter serving five years, to be able lo claim as good n wage as a diligent fellow-worker, legislation cannot, as even a Socialist will admit, place an indilVoronl worker on a level with u competent cue. I consider it our duty to improve our present system. I have no wish to inllict hardship on opprentices, but we know that discipline is to bring out the better qualifies of all voiing people, hi the colonial syst/'in alb workers i-omnelent and incompetent, are admitted to their trade union. In Germany that would bo impossible, as members of guikls must have a certificate, of competency. 1 know from my own experience that better harmony exists under these conditions than under tho present conditions of master and apprentice in Now Zealand."