NEED OF CRAFTSMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1938, Page 4

NEED OF CRAFTSMEN

OUR APPRENTICESHIP LAWS ANTIQUATED STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF LABOUR (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. “The apprenticeship laws of this country are absolutely antiquated," said the Minister of Labour, the Hon H. T. Armstrong, in replying to questions on the position of apprentices during consideration of the estimates of the Labour Department in the House of Representatives yesterday. "This whole matter requires attention.” said Mr Armstrong. “In the general run of trades under modern conditions I do not think a five years’ apprenticeship is necessary. I believe there are too many restrictions at present.” Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo): “Will you help us to put the matter right?” "We have got to face up to the position and put it right,” said the Minister. “However, it must be remembered that when we came into office there were only 3300 registered apprentices in the Dominion. We have managed to get that figure up to 8000 at the moment, but the normal requirements of the country can only be met by a total of 10,500 apprentices. We hope to bring the total to 10,000 by the end of the year, but in view of the leeway which we have to -make up we would not be going too far if we had 15,000 apprentices.”