MAKING SKILLED WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1920, Page 5

MAKING SKILLED WORKERS.

PRESENT METHOD UNATTRACTIVE. PROPOSALS IN NEW BILL. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this evening, Mr. Bartram moved the second reading of the Masters and Apprentices Act Amendment Bill. He said the tendency .to-day was for boys and girls to drift into unskilled labor. They were neglecting trades, because the term of apprenticeship was not made attractive enough. The object of the Bill was to improve this. The present Act was now altogether foreign to the spirit of the age. An apprentice was bound down by penal clauses, but there were none such in his Bill. He wanted to make the term of apprenticeship a time in young people's liveß which would leave pleasant memories.,He proposed to shorten the term of irfd&iture, and to see that, more liberal remuneration was given. The hours ment were curtailed where' aim'apprentice is attending a technical class. The Hon. Sir William Herrieg (Minister of Labor) said he never believed in. the idea that a trade could be wholly learned in a technical school, preferring the old system of apprenticeship. If something could be done to increase the; number of apprentices: it would :be a good thing. There was a tendency ib level up wages until there was little difference between skilled and unskilled labor, but he hoped that when things became normal there would be a greater reward for skilled men. The Hon. J. A. Hanan stressed the importance of technical education in conjunction with practical training to make efficient apprentices and skilful trades* men. ' ! The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Labor Bills Committee.