SUBSIDIES FOR TRAINEES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 7

SUBSIDIES FOR TRAINEES

GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME OUTLINED J APPRENTICES TO SKILLED TRADES _——- 18. J.From Our Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, September 10. The scheme for training youths between the ages of 18 and 25 years in skilled trades, particularly building } construction, was outlined by the Act-ing-Minister for Labour (the Hon. P. C.Webb). Provision is made for subsidising the wages of apprentices over 18 years of age on a scale which, for example, gives a youth apprenticed to , the carpentry at\d joinery trade an. inI itial wage of £1 12s 6d a. week, rising to £3 7s 6d in the third and last year of aprenticeship. The amounts of the subsidy recoverable by the employer in such employment of apprentices will be 15s a week in the first year, 10s in the second, and 5s in the third. The rates vary for older apprentices. The Minister said that to provide means for absorbing youths between Vie ages of 18 and 25. who, because of the depression lost the opportunity of entering the skilled trades, a committee of Government departmental representatives was set up to framo nroposals for dealing with the matter. This committee made recommendations which were subsequently discussed with representatives of the workers' unions, and the Master Builders' Federation. The scheme as announced, applying for the prseent to the carpentry and bricklaying trades only, is—(1) To subsidise the wages of apprentices over 18 years on the following scales of wages and subsidies: Commencing Ag-c, 18 Years j Carpentry and Joinery

of trainees between the ages of 18 and 25, the subsidy to such trainees being 50 per cent, of the amount of the subsidy allowed to apprentices as shown above. For apprentices over the age of 18 years, continued Mr Webb, a special contract of apprenticeship would be required. "It is the desire of the Government that special efforts be made to place immediately those youths between the ages of 18 and 25 who at present are out of employment, and who are suitable and willing to enter the trades either as apprentices or trainees," Mr Webb said. "Full details of the trainee scheme will be issued in a few days. There is, however, nothing to prevent the immediate employment of youths over 18 as apprentices.''

Cu h cow ■«3 Bo A3 r* _-2 *fl £2 M 05 3 >. t/3Xl %'8 £ s. d. s. d. £ s. d. First year 1 12 6 15 0 0 17 6 Second ye«ir 2 12 (i 10 0 2 2 6 Third year 3 7 C 5 0 3 2 6 Commencing: Age 19 Years and Over Carpentry and Joinery £ s. d. s. d. £ s. d. First year 2 2 G 20 0 12 6 Second year 3 2 G 15 0 2 7 G Third year 4 2 6 10 0 3 12 C Commencing Age 19 Years and Over Bricklaying £ s. d. s. d. £ s. d. First year 2 12 6 25 0 17 6 Second year 3 12 6 10 0 3 2 6 (2) To provide for the employment