APPRENTICES AND BASIC WAGE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 16

APPRENTICES AND BASIC WAGE

MINISTER'S STATEMENT

PRESENT POSITION REVIEWED

(PBE33 ASSOCIATION TELEGBAiI.) WELLINGTON, April 30. In comment on statements made at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the ActingMinister for Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) emphasised that the basic wage does not apply to apprentices employed under contracts of apprenticeship entered into under the Apprentices Act, irrespective of age. "Provision . was made in the Statutes Amendment Act last session to enable the Minister for Labour to approve any contract of apprenticeship applying to youths of 18 years and over, under any conditions ttie Minister thought fit," he said. "This provision was made specially to give such youth an opportunity of becoming tradesmen. . "The number of. apprentices in skilled trades in 1928 was 10,227, and in 1935 it was 3502; To maintain the necessary supply there should be approximately 2000 new apprenticeships entered into eabh year. During the last-five years the number was approximately 700. Last year there was some improvement, 1292 new contracts being registered. "It should be understood, however, that of the present number of apprentices a large proportion are in their fourth or fifth year. The position has disclosed that employers are not availing themselves of the existing provisions for taking on ap-. prentices; and are not training the requisite numbers to supply the demand and meet further requirements. "The Government is fully alive to the problem, and the question of a general overhaul of the Apprentices Act is under consideration. It is also pointed out that it is open to employers' and workers* organisations to come together to obtain) apprenticeship orders in occupations other than where ithere is an award or industrial agreement." After, referring to the provision for obtaining under-rate permits in special cases, Mr Webb stated that if it was found necessary to remove any disabilities that could not be overcome in the manner outlined, the matter would receive the sympathetic consideration of the Government. ■