APPRENTICES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1929, Page 3

APPRENTICES

ARBITRATION COURT HEARS COMPLAINT. AUCKLAND, April 29. A complaint was made in the Arbitration Court that the provisions of the Apprentices Act intended to assist firms Unit were financially embarrassed were uoing abused. Air Dixon, secretary of the Furniture Trade Union, mentioned the case of a firm going out of business, not because .1 bankruptcy or liquidation, hut because of ’the closing down of its cabinetiiiaking and upholstery department, i bis appeared to be a simple way for employers wlm desired to Irec themselves of apprentices for whom they had no further use. He also alleged abuses in the transfers of apprentices, ihe union contended that the provis-ioiis-in the’Adt was not meant to assist .mployers who had,'entered into con-•-acts to band over their obligations to some other employers, who were already availing themselves of the full quota ol apprentices. Oiler employers who were doing the right thing by their apprentices were badly hit by unlair competition, while journeymen were thrown out of employment by jobs being taken up by cheap boy labour. Judge Frazer said that the general order was not intended for eases of the kind quoted, but lor cases off hardship. The Court hoped that, where firms altered their trading, they would endeavour to fit their apprentices in -omewhere. Tho most important thing was that the lads should learn their trade.