TRADE TRAINING SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 2

TRADE TRAINING SCHOOLS

“ COMPETITION WITH FIRMS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. It would not be advisable to allow trade training schools to compete against commercial firms for work, said Mr C. M. Bowden (Opposition, Wellington West) discussing tne vote on thte Estimates for the Rehabilitation Department in the House of Representatives this afternoon. He said that master printers in Wellington had contributed funds and technical advice to establish a trade training school which was now canvassing for commercial work, and officer's had been sent to Australia to procure additional equipment. Mr Bowden considered that if the school were to continue commercial competition. there might be a danger of master- printers losing inter Jst in the scheme. The Minister Of Rehabilitation (the Hon. C. F. Skinner), in reply, emphasised that vocational training centres were for disabled men who could only be trained if they had a wide range Of work to keep them going. The object of their training was to release them to industry, but if this was hot possible the Department liked them to feel that they had a job in the centres Without having to go home and live on an economic pension. It was true that they were in competition, but their opposition to the printing trade Was not of-serious dimensions. The vote ,was, passed.