A TRADE SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 102, 2 May 1935, Page 23

A TRADE SCHOOL.

As sponsor of the scheme for the establishment of a trade school in Auckland, I would like to make it clear to the Minister of Education that it is not intended as an alternative to apprenticeship; on the contrary, it will act as a feeder to it. The details of the scheme still require a good deal of coordination and support of the industries concerned; but I can definitely state that it is intended that whatever period is occupied by a pupil at a trade school would be allowed off the term of apprenticeship; as an example, if a learner put in a period of hours at a trade school equalling, say, six months, and was then engaged by a manufacturer, this time would be taken as portion of the apprenticeship period, and the pupil would be engaged at the wages ruling under the award for the second six months of the apprenticeship. In the clothing industry, particularly, there are factors that operate against the initial training of apprentices, which usually takes six months. The most important factor is the system in vogue in the principal factories, that is the "bonus system" whereby payment above award rates is paid on results. It is obvious, therefore, that an operative working under these conditions is not enthusiastic in teaching, more particularly if the pupil at the start is not very apt. When all is considered, teaching is a highly specialised profession, and it does not necessarily follow that a skilful worker makes a good teacher in a factory, but I do think that a skilled worker combined with a system such as in vogue in the Technical College would achieve the desired results. „.„„ -r A. J. SHACKKLL.