EMPLOYERS OBJECT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 651, 1 May 1929, Page 14

EMPLOYERS OBJECT

PAYING APPRENTICES IN CAMP COUNTRY SHOULD PAY The practice of requiring employers to pay wages to apprentices during the time they were in territorial training camps was discussed in the Arbitration Court yesterday, when a protest was entered by Mr. S. E. Wright, secretary of the -Employers' Association. Ho appeared in support of an application by the Master Plumbers’ Association for employers to be allowed to make rateable deductions from the wages of an apprentice for all time lost by him through sickness, accident not arising out of the course of hi's employment, apprentice's default, voluntary absence with the consent of the employer, and any other cause over which the employer had no contro;. Mr. J. Clark appeared for the union. “As the law now stands employers not only have to lose the services of their apprentices while they are in camp,” said Mr. Wright, "but they are also obliged to pay their wages as well. While in camp the boys are found in board, lodging and clothing by the Government, and are paid 4s to os 6d a day, which is more than many of them earn as apprentices. The whole cost of training our territorials is a charge which should in all justice bo borne by the whole country, not by any particular section of the community.” Mr. Clark said this amendment meant that the boy was to be paid only for the hours he worked. If it suited the employer he could tell the boy to stand ! off as he had no work for him. It was , a wonder the employers had not ob- | jected to payment for holidays also, j but that would have looked too bad. j The court reserved its decision.