APPRENTICES IN CAMP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 5

APPRENTICES IN CAMP

PAYMENT OF WAGES MANAGER’S PROTEST (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Prevailing opinion on the payment of apprentices while attending military camps was shown clearly during the prosecution ot Booth, Macdonald and Co. in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court for non-payment. A formal plea of not guilty was entered, although the facts of the prosecution were admitted. The manager, Mr. G. M. Hall, made the following statement in the witnessbox: — “The payment of wages to youths attending military camps is the most unjust class taxation to which employers who are willing to train apprentices are subject. For years past employers’ organisations have repeatedly received protests from employers throughout the Dominion at the failure of the late Government to grant relief and on several occasions during the last six years the late Government had been approached in this matter, pointing out that the employer is being unfairly penalised as a principle. “In my opinion the only way out is for the Government to provide relief for private employers in the same way as they treat themselves, or for the Government to pay every man, apprentice or otherwise, his full wages while he is in camp and thereby relieve employers of a most unfair burden. As the law stands apprentices and youths are paid a premium for attending camps and we desire that the whole community should pay an equal share toward the cost of military training.” “That is very political. Mr. Hall.” said the magistrate. ”1 am saying nothing—£2 and costs.”