ENGAGING APPRENTICES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 6

ENGAGING APPRENTICES

-Press Aasociation.)

Reluctance of Employers Being Overcome MINISTER PLEASED

(Bv Telea-ranh-

-WELLINGTON, This Day. "I am pleased to be able to say that reluctance on tlie part of the employers to engage apprentices, which has been evident from 1930 onwards, is now being overcome to a great extent," said the acting-Minister of Labour, Hon. 1'. C. Webb, in an interview to-day. ' 'During the year ended March 31 last, there were 2328 contracts of apprenticeship registered, conipared with 1292 for tbe previous year. Tlie number of apprentices employed iu skilled trades at the end of April was 5231, an increase of 1679 within twelve month. A more recent return indicates a stxli further improverhent for the 4£ montlis being dealt with by the department, while under the Governmeut's special legislation passed last year an additional 269 special contracts for youtlis over 18 years of age liave either been registered or are being dealt with covering tlie same period. Mr. Webb. added, however, that there was still a considerable shortago of apprentices in niost skilled trades, particularly the building trades. Ther'c\ had also been a niarked increase in the employment of girls and boys under 16 years of age in factories, the increases for th'e 1936-37 period over that of la-st year being: Girls, 608; boys, 860. After referring. to the increase in the number of factories, and also in the number of workers employed therein, Mr. Webb stated that no accurate record of tho number of shops anu shop assislants was avavilable, but from information obtainable the figures disclosed an increase of 955 shops aua 7134 assistants. The Minister went on to comment ti the increased number of awards in lorce, and also referred to the large increase in the number of orgaiiisations of • employers and workers that had applied for registration during the year..