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Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1926, Page 2

Oxe of the pliases of the labour situation which is in need of special consideration is that affecting apprenticeship. The trend of the labor laws in this country is to limit apprenticeship somewhat unduly. A warning might well he given on the subject, for as it is mischief will arise from the decay of apprenticeship. Apprenticeship is the life spring of all successful industry. Many of the young folk who follow various trades are iriiperfectlv equipped for their jobs. One of the consequences is from an economic point of view that the wealth of the nation suffers materially through defective production. The intervention of legislation in the matter has had rather disastrous results, for there are not the same qualified journeymen

coming on in their trades.- It is not sufficient that an applicant for workin a trade should he a unionist. He should produce liis credentials also as to service and ability, and those qualifications can come only through apprenticeship. There arc limitations of age, and in number of apprentices which are also affecting the position, and keeping out youths and growing men, who would he useful as journeymen if they had the opportunities to qualify as master workmen. In America the apprenticeship question is dealt with on more liberal and progressive lines. The recent British workers’ delegation were given an insight into the position. The Mesta Company has 60 boy apprentices in different trades under a four-years’ course of instruction. They are paid fivepence an hour at the start and they have three-montly rises to r maximum of of 2s 4d per hour. “If a hoy shows aptitude in the trade as he progresses lie is pushed along.” said Mr Bird, the general superintendent, who explained. “There are also apprentice courses for men who want to get on. Even fathers of families can begin at Is lOd an hour, rising to 2s fid during instruction in various trades employed in our plant. They usually qualify in two years. If a man or hoy does not progress or proves to he a square peg in a round hole we do not let him go on and waste his time and ours. Remember that the success of our skilled men is not a matter merely of running a machine. A machine will run no matter who handles it. Success depends on the frame of mind of the man behind it. If two men on the same machines show different degrees of skill one naturally makes more than the other. Every man is striving his best to make as much as possible.. That is the secret of their high wages.” It is a question, it would appear of liberalising industry, and with more competent workmen, better trained as to details, the superior results follow—larger output, which means more wealth, and that in turn enables higher wages to be paid. In the case of machinery that must be self-evi-dent. The knowledged and skilful workman obtains the result, which can come only from a good grounding in the trade. The field for apprentice training should he made as open ns possible.