Plans For Course On Textiles 'Jeopardised'

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30897, 2 November 1965, Page 20

Plans For Course On Textiles 'Jeopardised'

The Wellington textile and garment industry hoped to have established next year at the Wellington Polytechnic New Zealand’s first textile technology course, Mr M. L. Cohen said yesterday at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Textile and Garment Manufacturers’ Industrial Union of Employers at Han mer Springs. However, the chances of establishing the course had been jeopardised by the apathy of many of the Wellington people in the trade. The four-year course would be based on an English courte with adaptations for New Zealand conditions. It could provide the future controllers and managerial talent in the industry. It would provide something the industry lacked, and would remove any stigma the industry might have, Mr Cohen said. Only six of the minimum of 15 enrolled for the course, and when Wellington manufacturers were asked to support an advertising campaign for more students only seven replied, of whom only four offered financial support. The Polytechnic director had said the space for the course was available at the moment but if the present opportunity was allowed to pass he did not know when the course could again be fitted in.

Mr J. Diamond said that such a course would bring into the industry the type of executive material needed. He was certain that many of the public did not know of the advantages for their children in industry, and especially in the garment Industry.

At present bright students were encouraged to enter the professions. The next layer was advised to enter offices and retail concerns, and the remainder was sent to industry. Few knew that foremen of a knitting workshop could earn between £3O and £4O a week. Mr H. L. Stevens said that the metal trades and television were well ahead of the garment industry in education. “We will invest in machines and buildings but we shy off investing in people,” he said. A report to the conference on opportunities for employment of graduates of the Otago University School of Home Science with qualifica tions in textiles and clothing design said that after the matter had been discussed at the 1964 annual meeting members were circularised on

their ability to offer employment to such graduates. However, in spite of the enthusiasm with which the matter was received at the time, there had been no response from members.

“A further inquiry received from a School of Home Science graduate finds us unprepared to provide a list of possible employers,” the report ended.