THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1911. THE APPRENTICE PROBLEM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10287, 15 July 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1911. THE APPRENTICE PROBLEM.

One of the problems which, face factory owners 'in.New Zealand at the present time is that of providing suitable labour to replace (those who' are .becoming,worn-out with age and infirmity. The Evening Post, dealing with, the subject, says that Unionists, in their eagerness to discourage "hoy labour," have pressed for a limitation' of apprentices in trades which have filed, disputes for 'settlement by the Arbitration Court! The Unions' representatives have been keenly on guard to minimise risks.of « glut in the skilled labour market. The proportion of apprentices has been steadily reduced by the lOoxtrt, and *he relationship between the employer and the young learner ha« .been changed—for the worse, srfcates the Wellington Employers' Association. The members complain that statute law and the awards have brought ■considerable elements into the matter of apprenticeship. The employers lack a definite 'Statement of apprentices' responsibilities and duties to the employer. Generally, the complaint is that the conditions are made unfairly comfortaMe for the apprentice at the employers' expanse. Some of the lads take advantage of the security assure ed for them by the law, and are impertinent. Qthero, knowing (that em* ployer* h«v: t- pay for time consum-

Ed by sickness, real or alleged, have no scruple about developing aches and pains when a fit of tiredness overtakes them. Such a state of affairs is vicious, of course, for the youths as well as the employers. less- the terms of an agreement axe fixed on a basis to induce the apprentice to apply himself heartily and honestly to his work, lie will turn out to be an indifferent tradesman, a nuisance to himself and everybody else. This question is much more serious than -tue public may imagine". The times have changed since the days when apprentices were guaranteed a thorough training in the workshops. The employers were then, in a position to command proper attention, to the lessons. They are not in that position to-day. Technical classes are expected to assist in shaping an .apprentice into a valuable tradesman, but the classes alone will not solve the problem just yet. The issue is so important to Now Zealand that it deserves some earnest thought.