Masters and Apprentices Bill

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1894, Page 2

Masters and Apprentices Bill

The new Masters and /Apprentices Bill is a considerably altered measure, the alterations taking the direction wri (Post) indicated when the first Bill was withdrawn. The hew BUI isrcom->: pulsory only in the case of apprentices.* employed in factories, tn other CMCf- ' the provisions are optional on both* sides. The provisions as to r^uiring that apprentices be sent to Church, •fee, have been struck out. The Government Apprentices Act is amended to abolish solitary confinement as a r punishment for apprentices. The per- L centage of apprentices' wages, which must be invested has been simplified r by making it a. pro rata contribution „ of one penny in every shilling during .. the second and third years, and twopence in the shilling forthe remainder ■ of the term, tbe contributions to be placed in the Government Savings Bank to accumulate at inteirest till the end of the apprenticeship. , Appjnen? Lj tices' wages must be paid weekly or fortnightly. The consent of the ap^f prentice is necessary to tbe transfer off. indentures. The Goveraor-in-Cooncil : may make regulations asto terms. ;©£ •?. apprenticeship, what trades or occupa- ' tions shall come under the Act; ' minimum scale of wages, or percentage ' rates. The Masters and Apprentices * Act, 1865, is to be repealed. It iia. L* provided tbat this following propoition : to the average of adult wage 3in each : handicraft shall be the minimum scale i for apprentices: — First year, 14 per cent. ; second, 20 per ' cent. ; third, 35 per cent.; fourh, 50 per cent.;. fiftb, 60 per cent. ; sixth, 75 per cent.