SUBSIDISED LABOUR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 7, 1 October 1937, Page 11

SUBSIDISED LABOUR

Govqrnment's Plan to Relp the Building Trade The Government's plaii for granting a sabsidy to builders who will engag/e young men from 18 to 25 years of age is now in full operation in many parts of the Dominiou. The reason for concentrating on the building trade is that, becailse of the ehortage of skilled operatives at preseiit, and the eager demaiid for houses, it is beiieved that that industry will for several years provide greater ■opportunities for the absorption of labour, directly and indirectly, than any other. The plan covers two classes of engagement. The first follows the usual app'rentieeship procedure but in the second class is the trainee, who is not indentured and whose services the employer may termiuate whenever lack of work warrants such action. The waiting periods between terms of engiagement will be made less serious by granting the trainee the relief for. which he may be eligible, without any stand-dowu period. The subsidy is applicabie only to adult apprentices or trainees in tlie carpeutry trade who are undor 26 and who atfained the age of 18 on or before September 1, 1937. In the brick-laying trade the age is 19 years. The rates of pay are the same for both trainees and apprentices. In the carpentering and joinery trade, for lads starting at 18 years, the wage is fl I2/C a week, with £2 12/6 the second year and £3 7/6 for the third year, with joumeymeu's rates thereafter. •Tbe subsidies in tbese cases are: For trainees, 7/6. 5/- and 2/6 ; and for apprentices, 15/-, 10/- and 5/-. Lads of 19 years or over vvill start on £2 2/6 a week, with £3 2/0 the t'ollowiug year, and in the third year £4 2/6. They may tken claim journeymen's rates. Subsidies: Trainees,' 10/-, 7/6 and 5/-; apprentices 20/-, 15/-, t and 10/-. Ta tlie bricklaying trade, lads'

beginning at 19 years and over will receive.£2 12/6, and in the second year. £3 12/.0. They will then be entitled to the rates for journeymen. The subsidies in this case are; Trainees 12/6 and 5/-; apprentices 25/- and 10/— From the financial asjpect, it is preferable for the employer to. employ the»youths as apprentices, the subsidy being greater in that case. ' Tfaiiiees and apprentices are required to attend a technical school, or to take a corre- ' spondence • coUrse, or an approved course at some school. If progreSs and attendance are satisfactory, payment of school leea will be arranged. • In cases where either a trainee or an apprentice is unable to purchase essential tools, the secretary of labour has authority to eupply them, subject to arrangements being made for the refund of the cost in small weekly payments.