APPRENTICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1919, Page 10

APPRENTICES.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

SUGGESTIONS BY THE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE.

The Industries Committee's report contains the following remark- on apprentices and their training:

The committee find that the status and remunerative of the skilled artisan is at present little, and in some eases not, higher than that of the unskilled laborer, and that until this anomaly is removed we cannot expect our youths to undergo a period of training as apprentices unless we make apprenticeship more attractive and materially improve the status and emoluments of skilled •rtisans.

As to a suggested scheme of apprenticeship the committee report that the method of apprenticeship now in force in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., known as the "Co-operative Industrial Course." is worthy of serious consideration. The course extends over a period of four Tears. The first year—when the boy is between fourteen and fifteen year's of age—is spent entirely in the Trade or Continuation School, and during that time he specialises in those subjects which will best fit him for the trade he has decided to take up. or, where he has not alrendv done so. is encouraged to come to a decision, and then receives that tuition which will assist in equipping him for his career. For the next three years—that is to sav when he is between fifteen and eighteen years of age —the lad divides his time between the school and the workshops. All the boys are "paired" in each trade, .-o tljat while one. is in school the other is in the shop or factory, and vice versa. This plan has proved successful in Pennsylvania.

The committee recognise that the limited capacity of the Technical Schools does not at present permit of the Pennsylvania scheme being adopted forthwith, hut legislation on the lines of that scheme should be eiiagtcd without delay, and the schools strengthened as -speedily as possible to enable this much sounder and more beneficial system to be brought into vogue. No apprentice should be regarded as fully qualified until he has proved by examination that he has acquired a fair knowledge of the science and technique of his trade, in addition to having acquired the usual standard of practical knowledge and skill. At present there is a marked shortage of apprentices throughout the Dominion, and with the industrial development that we can reasonably expect, there will be great demand for skilled artisans. The apprenticeship question therefore is vital to us in all industrial branches.