MASTER AND APPRENTICES BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1920, Page 1

MASTER AND APPRENTICES BILL.

' LABOUR MEMBERS EIUHT 11

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, September 23. The House had a. long night on the Master and Apprentices Amendment Bill. The Labour members announced their intention of lighting tfiis hill on the grounds that the scheme for bringing ‘farm apprentices from Britain was a form of indentured labour. They described the scheme as semi-slavery and proceeded to move amendments to Nall the clauses with the object of obstructing the Bill. Some other members of the House had doubts regarding carta in clauses and the Minister f« r Agriculture did not get his bill through committee until after 3 a.m. He, himself, proposed amendments intended to give additional protection to boys indentured and to state the minimum amoiuit of wages to he paid to the apprentice during the first year, 'The wage paid 'after the first year, is to be the wage ' usually paid on farms to boys of a like * age and capacity. x' I The original hill embodied penal , clauses of" the main act which were i framed half a century or niprq ago. j These clauses provide that the qppren- ; tico who offends against the terms of his indenture may be taken before two Justices and sentenced to solitary conI fineinent in prison for a period not exceeding three days. The, apprentice who leaves his master during his apprenticeship may bo required to setie the lost time when he is found. The Minister has omitted these clauses and substituted a new clause providing (1) that an apprentice guilty of a.'breach of dqty, disobedience or illbob avioiir, may be take# before Justices who may reduce his wages by not more than one half for a period not exceeding two months. ‘(2) The apprentice who leaves his employment may be arrested and in.addition to a reduction of wage ipay be sent back to his employers residence in custody. ~ (3) A# apprentice who refuses or neglects to submit to dug control may be taken before t\y.o justices who may order that the indenture shall be cancelled, and the apprentice tobt bflek to England. The Minister, accepted one or two small amendments during the night. He agreed tfiat the consent of the parents or guardian in Britain, to 'the apprenticeship should he required to he won.

All the divisons were usually lost by large majorities.