TOO MANY APPRENTICES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 651, 1 May 1929, Page 9

TOO MANY APPRENTICES

VARIATIONS OF AWARD SOUGHT

Three applications for variation ot conditions of apprenticeship in tn - plumbing and gasfitting trade were heard before the Arbitration Court, when the union, through its secretarj. Mr. J. Clark, sought to reduce the number of apprentices in employment by making the proportion one apprentice to three journeymen, instead or one apprentice to two journeymen, as at present. . * Mr. Clark said a large number oi men were out of employment owing t" the large number of apprentices who were swamping the trade. In 13-* •* ! apprentices completed their time nn< 25 or 26 of them were immediately discharged. In 90 per cent, of cases boy - were working on jobs on their own account, with no journeymen. Mr. S. K. Wright, for the employ - ers. questioned Mr. Clark’s statements, and said that during last year only 1bovs had been taken on in the trade. The union asked further that an amendment be added giving the apprenticeship committee power to order any apprentice living within -0 miles of the Technical School to attend classes, the employer to pay the feeand the apprentice to refund if no aid not attend 70 per cent, of the classes. The third application was from the Master Plumbers - Association askum power to make various deductions from wages for lost time. The Court reserved decision on a" applications.