IN FINAL WEEK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 8

IN FINAL WEEK

Apprenticeship Commission Inquiry The Commission of Inquiry into apprenticeship matters at present sitting in Wellington has beard submissions on behalf of .18 different sections of industry or organizations related to an industry, both employer and employee. As the majority of the witnesses- have been cross-exam-ined in detail, a comprehensive analysis of apprenticeship is already available. The commission will include in its programme this week visits to the trades wing of the Army School. Trenlham. the Wellington Technical College, and a cat-pen fry training centre under the direction of the Kehabilitation Board. The Wellington sitting will conclude on Friday ami tie’ commission will commeuce its Auckland session next Tuesday. The IS sections of industry or organizations related theri'lo which have submitted evidence are: Furniture trade, plastering trade. Wellington Technical College Board of Managers, Wellington Drawing Otlice, an individual builder, a woodwork instructor, hoot repair trade, plumbers and gasfitters, electric power boards supply. Technical Education Association. X.Z. Institute of Electricians. North Island Electrical Trades Inion. Hutt Galley Master Builders' Association. N.Z. Electrical Traders' Federation, watchmaking and repairing, Wellington Boys' Institute. N.Z. Government Railways Department. X.Z. Motor Body Builders’ Assoeiat ion. Submissions which have drawn considerable cross-examination during the inquiry may be summarized as follows: — (1) .Apprenticeship to industry instead of the individual employer: (2| daylight training: (•'!) registration of all skilled tradesmen to ensure more adequate reeognition of their skill: (4) registration of all employers to ensure the distribution of employment : (si. a universal basic apprenticeship rate with corresponding yearly increases’; (ID retention of the existing five-year period; (7) the State to take over the responsibility for training in abnormal times if a private.employer was unable io do so: (8) greater elasticity of the otiofa system in order to ensure more apprentice's; (9) inspection of apprentices and certifieation of journeymen; (10) replacement, of the present, wage scale by rates designed to give apprentices a measure of remuneration' comparable with those in other skilled trades, and in proper relation to unskilled occupations.

While the Apprentices Act, 1923. and its amendments had met generally the needs of the industry in so far as the control of apprentices was concerned, many of its provisions could have been used to greater advantage, said Mr. IL X. Chatterton, in 'submitting evidence on behalf of the X.Z. Motor Body Builders’ Association. He held that there had been a lack of interest, by employers and workers' organizations and a lack of interest by the administrative department. It was claimed that there was a need for a co-ordinating national policy committee for each industry to lay down a plan that should be followed by the various local committees, for greater interest by the Technical College authorities in teaching apprentices, the introduction of lectures on the progress of industry and its future outlook, and lectures on culture and discipline. It was held that of late years there had been a serious lack of respect shown by apprentices toward their seniors at work, as well as to their employers, their employers’ premises, plant and material. Witness further suggested a more liberal proportion of apprentices in the industry. It was believed that the trade would and could absorb in the future, without flooding the labour market, one apprentice to each journeyman. The retention of the existing terra of apprenticeship was also urged. Apprenticeship to industry was opposed. Messrs. .1. Coates and L. Joi] also made submissions on behalf of the industry.