“KID GLOVE JOBS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1925, Page 3

“KID GLOVE JOBS.”

ARE TRADES NEGLECTED? WELLINGTON, April 27. Are the professions as a life occupation being stressed in New Zealand schools to the detriment of trades? Mr J. Gtughley, Director of Education. had some interesting remarks to make on the subject when interviewed by a “Times” icporter yesterday.

“It has been stated. - ' lie fluid, ‘'that there are mare applications for apprenticeships in many trades than can be accepted, and though there may lo some apparent ohortnge in connection with other trades, it is not clear that a bias towards clerical and professional pursuits resulting from secondary education is the cause of this .shortage. Under modern conditions the mauuU'cture of clothing, boots, agricultural implement - tinware, furniture and the like is carried out almost entirely by machinery. All that is required, therefore. is a number of extort machinists who are not tradesmen, together with some fitters who assemble the parts when completed. It would thus appear that the introduction of ma’hinory has more to do with the reduction of the number of apprentices than any marked disinclination on the part of boys to take up manual work. “Again, owing to modern conditions it is stall'll to bo difficult for employers to train apprentices fully in tlioir trade. 11 is also known that the comparatively high wages given to unskilled workmen has had some effect in diverting hoys Inin skilled occupations. it is recognised that the points just stated do not fully meet the case mid may need some qualification, hut they do apply to a greater extent than is generally believed, and they i educe to a considerable extent the weight of the suggest ion that extended facilities for education are alone or childly the cause of any disinclination to take up skilled trade occupations.” AGi. UT bTi" I! E NOT I'OI’ULAR. Mr ("sughiey stressed the value of agwenlt ore as ai. ovulation, hut said ft-at although this had been catered fur to a very large extent the response had been discouraging so far as the number of pupils taking the course was concerned. This lie attributed to some extent lo the lack of capital ami t*« the io.mlit.ions of employment for agricultural workers, which did not a.'P

to the hovs. In (onoltK'ion, Mr ( ;iu;ihb\v . “Much more* bo said up >a • the phases of this interesting subject, but it might be impressed upon the public generally Hist we should have no misgivings about the wide extension of opportunities for (vlueation of a coi.si.ler.,l,l v higher standard than obtained a

generation or cn ago. Many ol the soooestions and <<itiei-ms frequently heard in times days have implications which lew would or.ro to express explicitly. We must give ample and equal opportunity to all and. as in main- other of the intricate and delicate adjustments of life, leave the best I*, come to the top.