‘Apprentices Not Aware Of Review’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 3

‘Apprentices Not Aware Of Review’

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 16. The president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) and the president of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association (Mr E. F. Salmon) both consider that protest action by Auckland apprentices should have been taken through the appropriate existing channels. But they did not condemn last night’s decision by 50 boilermaker apprentices to seek improvements in apprenticeship conditions.

Mr Skinner said the apprentices should have aired their grievances during the apprenticeship review last year. Mr Salmon said: “I think it is highly likely that these boys are not aware of action being taken. The report of the Commission on Vocational Training recommended a review of the terms of apprenticeship, wages and conditions.”

He said he thought the apprentices should have acted through apprenticeship committees.

Mr Skinner, however, called for a closer examination of the system of apprenticeship

in the light of increased automation and mechanisation. “There is a case for shorter apprenticeships because of the changing nature of industry.” ' He described the six-year plumbing apprenticeship as “ridiculous.” The term could probably be cut by two years, with the trainee starting on the fourth-year rate of pay. Mr Skinner said unskilled labour was creeping in because of the shortage of apprentices. A shortened term of apprenticeship would attract more youths, but unions had often opposed this in the past.