REWARDS FOR SKILL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 228, 23 June 1944, Page 3

REWARDS FOR SKILL

Problem Of Apprentice Employment MONETARY ANGLE A system of registration for skilled tradesmen and daylight training of apprentices at technical schools at the expense of the State were among submissions made yesterday to the Commission investigating apprenticeship problems in Wellington. Evidence was given by an individual builder and by a woodwork instructor. Mr. Justice Tyndall presided. ihe commission will continue to hear evidence in Wellington up to July 7, and will open a sitting in Auckland on July 11. Mr. G. Shields, secretary of the Dominion Federation of Boot Trades Associations, submitted that the major problem in securing sufficient boys as apprentices was the high wages offered to unskilled workers, which tended to keep more boys away from skilled occupations where an apprenticeship and study were necessary. Unless some measure of protection was afforded skilled tradesmen against unskilled men at the same rate ot remuneration, there was little use in pressing for an amendment of the Apprenticeship Act. So long as a trade was open to all comers, irrespective ot their trade qualifications, it was a waste ot time discussing the subject. It would b'e necessary to introduce a system ot registration of the individual bylaw it the skilled man was to receive proper recognition of his skill and trade qualifications. No person should bo eligible for a job unless he could produce his certificate of registration. This would take some time, because of the dearth of skilled tradesmen, but should work smoothly in the course of a few years. It would also mean that the cost of production could be substantially lowered. Witness agreed that there were a number of processes in an industry which could be learned in a short space of time, but that would not make theimfully qualified and capable of tackling any class of work in a particular industry. Mr. E. J. Armstrong, master woodworker, of F. J. Armstrong. Ltd., contended that it was impossible to tram competent tradesmen in the cities under the modern system of seetionalization and specialization. The apprentice had little opportunity to learn during the ordinary course of his work. He urged that all boys apprenticed to the carpentry, joinery or cabinet-making trades should be required to attend special schools ot instruction one full day each week at the expense of the State, and also two evenings a week in their own time. He also made comprehensive suggestions as to how this training should be carried outIn his opinion many boys were not adequately trained at technical schools today because of the high proportion of students to teachers. Witness opposed the suggestion of apprenticeship to ' industry, holding that there was real merit in the relationship between master and servant. He approved of the registration by law ot skilled workers, as with plumbers.

Mr. F. D. Cornwell, a member of the Commission, pointed out that the Carpenters’ Union had advocated registration about 10 years ago. but this had been opposed by the master builders. Mr. A. J. K. Park, woodwork instructor, recommended that a text book be coinpiled as applying to New Zealand conditions suitable for apprentices and others. He also made submissions concerning the nature of the examinations.