MOTOR MECHANICS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 271, 28 August 1933, Page 6

MOTOR MECHANICS.

THE QUESTION OF EFFICIENCY. SCHEME UNDER CONSIDERATION (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr R. McKeen, M.P., who recently introduced to the Minister for Labour (the Hon. Adam Hamilton> n deputation from -the motor trade union, protesting against the conditions under which examinations for motor mechanics are conducted by the Motor Trade Association, 'has received the following letter from the Minister of Justice (the Hon J. G- Cobbe): "My colleague the Hon. Minister of Labour has passed on to me the representations made by a deputation from the motor trade union on July 27. I have had careful inquiries made into the subject matter discussed, with particular reference to the suggestion that the Motor,Trade Association had committed a false pretence in accepting examination and certificate fees from members of the union introduced by you. I find that your conclusions have been drawn somewhat prematurely and that the Motor Trade Association is even now organising a scheme for the improvement of the standard of the trade. This should be for the mutual benefit of the motor vehicle owners, garage proprietors and those employed in garages. Briefly the idea is to induce motor mechanics to qualify to pass an efficiency test. Garages that employ a certain quota of duly qualified men and whute sfcop equipment is up to a certain standard will be certificated. Motor unions will be advised as to the garages that are certificated, and it is contemplated that their guaranteed efficiency will commend preference to support.. Competition will ultimately require all garages to employ certificated men and thereby bring about a general raising of the quality of work done and incidentally justify a higher standard of charges, which will in turn enable a higher scale of wages to be paid. I have the papers and blank certificates relating to the whole plan of the scheme submitted to me, and I think the idea is a commendable one, but it is still in the embryonic stage, and it is too early yet to pass judgment upon its manner of working out in practice."