WHAT IS AN APPRENTICE?

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2177, 17 June 1914, Page 9

WHAT IS AN APPRENTICE?

INTERESTING CASE. (By Telesraph.-—Special Correspondent,) Palmerston N,, June 16. The question oi what constitutes apprenticeship Has dealt with by Mr. l'oynton, b.M., in tlie course ol giving judgment in tno caso of the Inspector of Awards v. Keeling and inindy, printers. Defendants (said' the Magistrate) had employed a German named liutlier who, on arrival, could speak so little English. that his cousin had to interpret his conversation. He received £2 per week as wages instead of £3 55., under tho compositors' award. He had served four years in Germany which- made him qualified there. His Worship said that £2 per week was probably more than ho was worth. The defence was that he was really an apprentice, and no was paid more than an apprentice would be paid in hi 3 fifth year, for, jn New Zealand, a man must serve six years to be a fully qualified typographer. 'J here was no agreement as to tho alleged apprenticeship, but the employers said that Luther could havo stopped ou for two years if he liked. Luther said that he had never uuderstod such to bo the arrangement and denied that he was there as an apprentice. Ho did not know English when lie was engaged and a verbal arrangement as to employment had been conducted through an interpreter. "It is probable," continued tho Magistrate, "that each iaisunderstood_ it. Apprenticeship is a relationship involving such important issues between parties that it will not be implied without strong evidence. In this case there was no proper apprenticeship, and I must give judgment accordingly. I luve been asked to rule whether a person who has served a term of apprenticeship in a foreign country shorter than that required' by tho trade rules in New Zealand can be regarded as a fully qualified tradesman liv this country. That is a matter for the unions, mid not for the Court. I would say that'he is not qualified. If shorter times wore "allowed it would open the door to cheap and inefficient labour. If four years only were sufficient for apprenticeship in one couutrv another mignt require only three, and so on. _ The proper thing io do in such cases is to • 'get a permit to employ tho workman at lower tliaii the awar<J rates." Judgment was given for the penalty claimed—£2. ~*•••*