PLUMBING APPRENTICES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 130, 1 March 1928, Page 7

PLUMBING APPRENTICES

CONCERN OVER LOW PERCENTAGE OF PASSES. Tho question of whether tho plumbing classes at Technical schools were fulfilling their functions in preparing candidates for Plumbers’ Board examinations was raised at the annual conference of the Now Zealand Federation of Master Plumbers yesterday. . Mr. F. 11. Jansen (Wellington) said the object of bringing the subject forward was to obtain enlightenment. His union was looking for information which would help the school, and disclose why so poor a percentage of passes was obtainod at the board examinations. Mr. C. W. Oborn (Christchurch) said the trouble in Wellington must be with the bo.ys themselves. They could not do without the technical schools, as ij!umbers had not the time to teach tho boys themselves, and were dependent upon tho Technical School plumbing classes. , ... x. Mr. W. Cross (Auckland) pointed out that tho City and Guilds’ ordinary grade examination was made a basis for paying out tho extra money provided for under the award. Mr. G. Hadlee (Christchurch) said that the nail had been hit on the head when it had been staled that tho trouble lav with tho boy, but, owing to military training, boys’to-day had too maiiy nights engaged. . . Mr. Jansen, in replying, said that in his opinion tho fault lay mostly with the boy in not attending school regularly. There were some boys who were not bright, however, and special inducements offered had not brought the results expected. No action was taken in tho matter. An Invercargill remit, “That apprentice plumbers attending technical schools on more than two nights per week be exempt from all military parades, with the exception of seven days’ annual camp,” was referred to the executive for passing on to the proper authorities.