BUILDING TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 54, 27 November 1919, Page 6

BUILDING TRADE

OVERCOMING LABOUR SHORTAGE TRAINING UNSKILLED RETURNED MEN AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT The scarcity of labour in the builfling trade is a factor that is eerionsly iniuecUnK efforts to overcome the housing problem in and around Wellington. It has been suggested that the labour shortage could be met largely by the training of fit unskilled returned soldiers in huildimr work, and with a view to tryiiiE to arrive at a satisfactory basis for tho instruction of one hundred men a oonferonco was held recently between members of the Wellington District Eβ; natriation Boartf, the Master Builders Union, and the Wellington branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. Thoso present at the conference were:—Master builders: Messrs. 1 , . G. Mace. A. Mildenhall, and A. M. AVilm>l). Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners: Messrs. Cox, Vorrall, mid 1". Singleton. Hepatization Board: Messrs. J. Kershaw and C. W. Batten (District Heoarriation Officer). It was pointed out to the conference that, although three thousand unionists eniistetf. there was a decided shortage of cnroenters. but more particularly of joiners From various causes apprentices w.-.ro iiot coming forward. After considering the position as it exists to-day, ami ns it was likely to 1)0 after the present skitasc of houses was relieved, the conference resolved that it would be safe to arranee for the training of one hundred lit unskilled returned soldiers in tho Wellington district, trainees to be allotted on tho basis of one to three journoyme'i. or part of three, a further confer-' en.v to be heltf if it was desired to train n.ore than ono hundred men. It was fell that while men would, of course, learn ouicker than the usual boy appren. Hew. three years' training would be necossarv to instruct a man in carpentry, loir.ery. and boxmaking. . All trainees, it was decided, must attend the Technical School. 'Jμ scheme under which the men will ho trained is the existing subsidised wauos scheme, wages to bo made up to £1 per week by the Repatriation Department, ana' to be. fixed by a committee consisting of tho chairman of the Repatriation Board, a representative of tho union, and a representative of the .employers. Tho trainees will be picked tip-i. It was considered advisable that n. minimum wage should be fixed up to the timo when the full award wago would lie earned. Tr was resolved that progress ronorre should be required from the employer and the Technical School, and that tho wanes committeo should be an appeal board" for readjustments necessary in nnv ense. Those present at the conference were assured that the employers and tho iourniwmen would do all in their power to turn out the trainees ns competent: journeymen, able to earn' tho award wage in any market. »