REVISION WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 11

REVISION WANTED.

APPRENTICES' ORDERS.

ENGINEERS' UNION MOVE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday

A movement is afoot to have amentlmente made to apprenticeship orders, which have been in operation, without any major alterations, since 1924. An increase in wages is one of the main aims for the amendments. The standard adopted for apprentices in 1924 was 15/ for the first year, with increases of 7/6 each year to £2 '>/ at the " fifth year. Since then the wages of journeymen have risen substantially.

The traded which employ most apprentices are the building and engineering industries and their allied trades. The plumbers have applied for a new order and a mi'lonai movement for a new order has beeii launched by the National Amalgamated Engineering Union.

An uppruach has been made to the engineering employers to consider the apprenticeship; order problem, according to the eeeretrtry qf the union, Mr. G. TV Thurston. /...Tfhe li'atipna] union desired to place <6jftih orders; on. a , Poniinioaeasis. Hrt^^eiy^gy' reached or |H»* Arbitration would fo;a change'fn' titer iictj wh ieh - now;; permitted' ; the ■»• making* of; only district orders. . '£•./•"/■•■••

" A Possible Course. The position from the employers' side was explained by Mr. t>. I. Macdofcald, secretary of the Canterbury Employers' Association, who- said it was impossible under tiie present law, to establish Doniinioit apprenticeship orders. -An amendment of the Apprentices ? Act would ( . be..required to permit that, tb be done. _; if A■' :.v/ • '■$ " : ' Hoxveveivthe-tisuaPproeedure Wasi'for the ordefe to be amended Bimuttaiu;ously—or almost simultaneously—in the various districts '7' throughout ■■ the Dominion. No doubt'this course would bo followed 'in the cases which were being reopened.