APPRENTICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1923, Page 4

APPRENTICES.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. WELLINGTON, May 30 The matter of apprentices, which has caused considerable iliscusson in the Dominion in recent months, was the subject of important proposals at a Conciliation Council, when the dispute under consideration *vax that between the carpenters and joiners and master builders, lit their application the employers asked' that wages for apprentices be 3‘J per cent of a journeyman’s minimum wage for the first six months, rising to 90 per cent of a journeyman's minimum wage in the last six months of the five-year period of apprenticeship. ft "'as provident that examinations should take place each six months. It was claimed that where technical education was available, apprentices should he allowed to attend on two half-days weekly. In the general claims it was set out that piecework .should he prohibited. A scheme on new lines was proposed in the counter-claims ol the employers. The text of the desired amendment was that the period of apprenticeship for youths under 10 years ol age when commencing the trade should be five years, but that six months should be allowed the employer of an apprentice to determine his fitness. Ihe clause in regard to adults set out that, in :inlcr that unskilled men might be trained as carpenters, employers might enter into an agreement with men without former experience to leach them the trade as carried oil by t In.* employer on the terms and conditions applying to apprentices, so fat as they were applicable, and subject to variation and addition in regard to attendance at Technical Schools, passing of examinations, and proportion ot apprentices. The rates of pay for apprentices would range from Cl 2s (id in the first year to L'2 5s ill the fourth. For adult apprentices pay would commence at 10 per cent of the rate for a journeyman, rising to 70 per cent in the fifth six months of service. Provision was made for the employer to pay an improver’s wage to ;m apprentice of one year’s standing, thill, is, nut less than Is (id per hour, and Is 9il in the ease of adults. It was desired to delete the clause in the award relating to piecework, and to

substitute one to authorise the employer to adopt any system of paymen: by re-nits that might he niuLunl!v agreed upon between the worker ami employer.

Speaking cm the matter, Mr Bloodworth stated that both sides were agreed that something drastic was lide-sary in connexion with apprentices. Endei' present conditions they were not getting men ready to carry on the work after the present journeymen were too old for lurther work. There were .some 2500 parties cited by the union. Each had the light to at least one apprentice. Hume of them had a right lo more. but throughout the Dominion to-day there Were noi more than 509 apprentices, and ii "O' clear that it was not Lite limitation elau-e in the award that provoni.ll apprentices from being taken on. He had a li't of hoys ready to go into the undo, and ether lists were kimv, ii of, hut he could noi find employer-. who were ready to give apprentices employment. This question of apprentices was Ihe main one in connexion with the industry to-day. In this Dominion, the imlustiy with which they were concerned was only seioml in importance to the agricultural imlii'fiv. It must be evident that, miles.' they provided some way by which hoys would It" brought into tiie imlu'try and properly trained, if was going to he a very serious outlook. Their demand.' were based on ether awards ill operation, and they hoped that the employers would consoler their proposals as practical men. and -:H.tie the whole thing, and not le. \ " io soir! Ih" mat l"r In t lie ( min. whi'b wa . rc"ip: i !oi men who had not an intimate knowledge ot (lie Industry. Hi: did lint think they were prepared to accept the proposals of the master builders, lull. they were prepared to go carefully into the matter, with a view In a settlement that would satisfy both parlies, and would do something towards solving Hie ikllietili question that faced them. j Mr Mainland, repic'enting the iims-

ter builders, said that many of Ihe builders, were in a small way, ami were not able lo take on apprentices, but there was u dearth of apprentices. Many considered that the restrictions in the past were among the main causes for the present position. He, however, wanted to draw their attention to the fact ilnit there was an ■Appi eni.ii osliip Rill coming before tin: House, and he thought that this would contribute largely towards bringing about what was going to he the best method of dealing: with apprentices. lie did not think the Council would get very far with the matter.

Alter discussion, the hearing' wa adjourned until to-morrow.

CARPENTRY THADE. CON CI LI ATJ ON COUNCIL. WELLINGTON. Mnv 31 Tl ie conciliation proceedings in (unuectioii with the. dispute between the New Zealand Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners and Ike cm plovers were continued to-day. U was det ided that, in the four chief centres, Die wages shall be paid weekly. inn that in the other centres, the wages shall he paid weekiv or fortnightlv shall bo by arrangement between the employer and the worker. On the question oi' payment for overtime a discussion ensued, and it was left over, no agreement being in sight. The workers agreed to strike out tln-ir claim limiting the weekly overtime to U) hours weekly. In the matter of overtime on the annual picnic day. it was decided to delete the day, Mr A. Fletcher undertaking to assist, the employers to secure a. universal picnic day applied to all trades. It was pointed out that the present system meant a certain amount of disorganisation, owing to each trade having its holiday on a different day. On the attainment of a universal picnic day. the matter will be reem- dori ii. Anzae Day was also deleted from the* list of holidays. This matter was left to tlie legislature.

The employees’ a.-sc.-sors condemned the employers’ proposal for adult apprentices and improvers. The employers agreed to droi) these proposals. A discussion ensued on the basis of the pro eut awards in various centres. Minor alterations wore made. 1 11 consequence of the intention of the Government to bring down a Bill garding apprentices, it was agreed that th. employers and employees should hold a conference at a future date to draft conditions regarding apprentices. A difference of opinion was expressed regarding piecework. It was decided to refer this matter to the court. It also was decided to refer tie preference quesion to the court. • Tli hours in the old award were retained—liamelv from S a.m. to 5 p.m. for the first five days of the week, and four hours on Saturday.