APPRENTICES AS SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15916, 1 June 1917, Page 6

APPRENTICES AS SOLDIERS.

PROTECTING THEIR INDENTURES (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, May 31. Tho "Gazette" to-night contains regulations modifying the provisions of all awards and industrial agreements so far as they affect the employment of apprentices becoming members of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force. It is provided that if any apprentice who is subject to an award or agreement has become, and now is, a member of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, or hereafter becomes a member of that force, liis employer may at any time after tho apprentice been a month in camp, or has left New Zealand with the forco (whichever first happens) engage a new apprentice in lieu of such first-mentioned apprentice, and may continue to employ such new apprentice for the full period of his apprenticeship, notwithstanding the return to his employ of tho first-rnention-ed apprentice. In the event of such new apprentice becoming a member of the Expeditionary Force, the foregoing provisions shall ajjply in the same manAny apprentice who has become a number of the Expeditionary Force may, on ceasing to be a niember of the Forco. bore-employed as an apprentice by his former employer or, with the consent of the Inspector of Factories, by anv other employer engaged in tho same Industry, and may continue to bo employed until tho period of his apprenticeship is completed, notwithstanding tnat thereby the numbor of apprentices employed by the employer may exceed the number otherwise by law allowed.