Adult apprenticeship scheme next month

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 16

Adult apprenticeship scheme next month

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. The first courses under the Government’s special contracts emergency scheme to train adults in carpentry would begin early next month, the Minister of Labour (Mr Watt) announced on Wednesday. The adult apprenticeship scheme was part of the Government’s efforts to increase the number of skilled tradesmen in the building industry. It would be a special scheme within the existing apprenticeship system, and was being introduced with the full agreement of the Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Committee, which included representatives of the building industry and the Carpenters’ Union. Features of the scheme are: Contracts will be available for a maximum of 180 apprentices a year for two years. Special courses lasting 18 weeks will be arranged at

technical institutes in Auckland. Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. /The Government will subsidise employers by 50 per cent of the minimum agreed wage rate while apprentices are receiving full-time tuition. The scheme will be reviewed after 12 months, and will run for a maximum cf 24 months in each ( area. The first year’s intake > would comprise two groups .of 90 apprentices, said Mr , Watt. It was expected that i the full quota of apprentices . would be reached for the first . courses, which should start I on July 2 or 9. Mr Watt said that special ' contracts for adults had always been available under; the apprenticeship order. The district commissioners of; iapprenticeship had reported; more interest in these con-; (tracts, and there seemed little doubt that such interest had been stimulated by the new emergency scheme, |