Apprenticeships In Salons Opposed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31540, 30 November 1967, Page 3

Apprenticeships In Salons Opposed

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 29. Women’s hairdressing was not a suitable industry for female apprenticeships, the Court of Arbitration was told today by a representative of the Auckland Employers’ Association, Mr D. E. Stewart.

In seeking compulsory apprenticeships the Ladies’ Hairdressing Industry Apprenticeship Committee was not acting in the best interests of the industry, Mr Stewart said in submissions on behalf of the Auckland Master Ladies’ Hairdressing Association. Employers he represented

would not oppose a voluntary system of apprenticeship if an alternative wage scale were maintained in awards for the northern industrial district. The industry employed femalfc staff who mostly started work at the age of 15, when they were too young to decide on apprenticeship, he said. For the first two years basic skills were taught, after which artistic flair and a personality to attract clients were necessary before a girl could progress to senior status, he said. Artistic flair could not be

taught to all entrants in the trade. Many found at that stage that they were unsuited and unhappy in the industry and moved to other positions. In the Auckland area the average stay in the industry was about three years. Apprenticeship was not a suitable method of staff recruitment in metropolitan, areas, where the competition from other industries without apprenticeship was severe.