H.—ll

The following table gives the approximate number of apprentices in the trades to which the Act now applies

Return showing Number of Apprentices employed in Skilled Trades April, 1944

This figure includes apprentices who are in the Armed Forces and whose contracts are accordingly suspended in terms of the Suspension of Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations 1944. The increase from 9,364 in 1943 to 9,774 in 1944 is therefore not a real one. The number of new contracts registered during the year ended 31st March, 1944, was 2,096. This compares with previous years since 31st March, 1935, as follows : 690; 1,292; 2,328; 3,235; 2,700; 2,840; 1,974; 2,441; 1,917. For the building trades only—viz., bricklaying, carpentering, painting, plastering, and plumbing -the figures are : 31st March, 1944, 484 ; previous years from 31st March, 1935: 145; 307; 585; 850; 876 ; 783; 460; 497; 372. If the number of apprentices as at 31st March, 1928 (all trades, 10,227 ; building trades only, 3,333), is taken as normal, there should be approximately 2,000 new contracts registered each year (approximately 650 for building trades only) if the supply of skilled tradesmen is to be maintained. Replacement of Apprentices joining the Armed Forces An employer may take steps, on the loss of an apprentice to the Armed Services, to obtain the approval of the Industrial Emergency Council for the employment of another to replace him, notwithstanding that the quota allowed by the apprenticeship order would be exceeded by employing the additional apprentice. During the year the Council approved the engagement of 207 additional apprentices in industries as follows, the totals since June, 1940, being shown in parentheses : Baking, 2 (18); bootmaking, 1 (11); boot-repairing, 1 (4) ; carpentering, 21 (68) ; clothing, 2 (5); coachbuilding, 5 (13); electrical engineering, 24 (61) ; engineering, 18 (52); furniture-manufacturing, 32 (98); hairdressing, 2 (4); motor engineering, 65 (152); painting, 6 (13); photo-engraving, 0 (6); plastering, 1 (3); plumbing, 10 (40) ; printing, 14 (58); tailoring, 0 (1); tinsmithing, 1 (5); watch-repairing, 2 (2) : totals, 207 (614). The Suspension op Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations 1944 These regulations consolidate and amend the Suspension of Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations 1939 and the amendments thereto. The effect of the amendments to the existing law is briefly as follows : — If an apprentice within six months after his release from military service revives his contract of apprenticeship, it is now to be revived for the term unexpired at the date of suspension or for a period of three years, whichever is the less. Previously the apprentice could revive his contract («) until the date when it would normally have expired, or (b) for the period unexpired at the date of suspension or a portion of such period. On revival of the apprenticeship the following provisions apply : — (1) If the apprentice is twenty-one or the term of the apprenticeship contract has expired, he shall be paid by the employer at a rate not less than the rate payable under the contract for the last six months of the apprenticeship plus one-third of the difference between that rate and the journeyman's rate. The Rehabilitation Board has indicated that it is prepared to meet the remaining two-thirds of such difference by way of subsidy, thus ensuring to any such discharged serviceman the journeyman's rate of wages. (2) In any other case the apprentice is to be paid in accordance with his contract (being given credit under the apprenticeship for the time served in the Forces for the purpose of determining his remuneration) until the contract term has expired or he attains twentyone years of age, whichever occurs first, and thereafter in accordance with paragraph (1). Previously the employer could be legally required to pay only in accordance with the scale set down in the apprenticeship contract, except where an apprentice was making up at the expiry of the term of his apprenticeship periods of absence in the Military Forces not exceeding six months at a time. Many employers, of course, on the return of their apprentices gave greater payments than prescribed by the original contract. (3) When an apprentice revives his contract under the regulations the employer is now required to give written notice thereof to the District Registrar of Apprentices.

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Number of Number of Trade. Apprentices Trade. Apprentices employed. employed. Baking .. .. .. 259 Hairdressing .. .. .. 101 Boatbuilding .. .. .. 30 Hatmaking .. .. .. II Boilermaking .. .. .. 75 Jewellery .. .. .. 100 Bootmaking .. .. .. 445 Leadlight .. .. .. 12 Boot-repairing .. .. .. 53 Masonry Blacksmithing .. .. .. 21 Moulding .. .. .. Ill Bricklaying .. .. .. 17 Painting .. .. .. 240 Carpentering .. .. .. 1,405 Photo-engraving .. .. 67 Clothing .. .. .. 181 Plastering .. .. .. 84 Coachbuilding .. .. .. 280 Plumbing .. .. .. 503 Coopering .. .. .. 4 Printing .. .. .. 766 Cycle-working .. .. .. 4 Saddlery .. .. .. 28 Dentistry .. .. .. 30 Sail and tent making Electrical .. .. 828 Tailoring .. .. .. 18 Engineering .. .. .. 1,723 Tile-laying Motor engineering .. .. 1,240 Tinsmithing .. .. .. 181 Furniture .. .. .. 923 Wicker-working .. .. 13 Furriers .. .. • • 1 Wire-working .. .. .. 3 Gardening .. .. .. 9 Total .. . . 9,774