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TRAINING SOLDIERS AS CARPENTERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,-Tho report of like Repatriation Boards' conferonco re training 6oldiers as carpenters would lead one to believe that whole scheme had met with universal approval at the hands of all those concerned, and left) nothing further to bo desired. Sucfh, however, is not tho case. Tho carpenters' delegates had no power to agree to anything—they could only carry back tho proposals to their unions, and leave tho union members to accopt or reject tho proposals as they saw fit. When lihe Order-iu-Council referring to this matter was being' dealt with, tho various unions had the matter under discussion; and the opinion of unionists generally was advereo to the whole scheme; and it does not need a prophet to say that the present proposals wall be turned down completely. Still, it does not follow that some basis may not be arrived at by which tho desired end can bo attained. One strong objection is that employers who do not trouble to teach apprentices, but let them drift into the trade, aro not likoly to take any move trouble with an able-bodied man, who will make a good labourer on emergencies, and there aro thoso who prophesy that these soldiercarpenters will lie more often ou tho concrete board than at the bench. From tho unionist point of view -three questions are involved, viz.: 1. Teaching the soldier a trade. 2. Exploiting the soldier for tho sake of cheap labour. 3. Using the soldier to break up the present trade conditions with a view to an amount of unemployment. The first question is one that no one has a right to. refuse. Tho other two questions the unionist has every right to guard himself against, so that, as a result of this, we ha,vo to protect tho soldier against himself, to protect liim against tiie exploitations of the employer, also to protect ourselves against the employers. Tho unionists are under no delusion in this_ matter; to' their mind tho average employer is out for cheap labour, and tho soldier is merely an incidental to its attainment. Tho succe-rs of such a scheme demands the co-operation ol' the men as well as omployors.. The teaching of these men depends upon the good-will 'of tho men they may work with. Unless the union men co-operate in the working out of tho scheme, it is doomed to failuro.

At a time when in tho interests of (he greater output, the utmost harmony should prevail, it is regrettable that such an ill-advised scheme should b: introduced, a scheme that will provoke nothing but hostility. If tho question is to be forced on the men against their will, the test that can bo hoped from it is sull?n resistance.

! As I have already stated there is 110 doubt about tlio scheme being turned down by tho rank and filo of the unionists. They fail la see why the State should throw .C7OOO a year at the employers for the sake of introducing 100 men to the position of building trades labourers. Consequently, it wild bo wise if those concerned made haste slowly in this matter, unless they deliberately want, to court trouble; and at the same time the.v should take further council, with a. view to elaborating a scheme that ensures a fair measure of success—l am, etc.,

W. MADDISON, National Secretary, Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. 85 Todman Street. Brooklyn, November il, 1919.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191129.2.44

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 56, 29 November 1919, Page 9

Word count
Tapeke kupu
574

TRAINING SOLDIERS AS CARPENTERS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 56, 29 November 1919, Page 9

TRAINING SOLDIERS AS CARPENTERS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 56, 29 November 1919, Page 9

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