APPRENTICESHIP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 6

APPRENTICESHIP

THE MAKING OF TRADESMEN

AN INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM DISCUSSED The question of apprenticeship was discussed at the annual conferenco of tho Now Zealand Builders and Contractors Federation .yesterday. ' The following remit was received from tho Wellington Association: —"That in view of the shortage of' competent journeymen in, tho'.building trades, and in order to ensure a supply of workmen for the future, this conference urges tho master liuilders to .take apprentices and assist in and encourage their training at technical schools." This remit was adopted, and a paper dealing with tho subject was read by Mr. W. H. Bennett, of Wellington. Mr. Bennett referred to the gravity of tho situation arising from the failure of employers to train apprentices, thus bringing.about a reduction, in tho number of competent tradesmen. He said it, was most important that employers should arrange for the training of a sufficient number nf young workers, and that tho awards should mako it worth while for boys to give tlioir best attention to the work at which they were to get their living. "We must try to place tho trade on a higher level than it occupies at the present time," said Mr. Bennett, "and wo must bring such pressure to bear upon Government, municipal and local bodies, as will mako it utterly impossible for men-to pass as tradesmen who have rot thoroughly equipped themselves to cam the wage attached to.tho various awards. In order to overcome the shortago of boys offering, wo must endeavour,to educate public ooinion. and' parents in narticular. It is a, lamentable ifact that w3ion. Eovs leave school parents often look" at tho immediate present and at" the wages a lad can earn without' prospect of future independence, rather than, let a hoy take a lower wage for the first few years of his. working life, and become an artisan, the most independent member of the community, for his trade will take him the world over. I fear ] the mothers of • our nation , are not blameless in this matter. How often do we hear the statement mado that mothers like to see their sons going and coming from their occupations well dressed j it is ; more fashionable to be a bank- clerk than a joiner; there is something 1 wrong with our social system ; it wants remedying. • . What, then, can bo done to'overcomo tho difficulties that beset our path? It was because I thought that this conference might give some assistance in the mattor that I promised to open up the question.- Can and does .our educational system ns at present constituted assist us? I thiiik it does not; the very fact that a lad. has to leave the primary school at tho age'of fourteen, is in itself an immense drawback. Wo generally consider that a boy is not an industrial asset under the age of sixteen years: this leaves a gap of two years in which tho lads drift away to this and that, as message boys,! etc.'j and. their tastes and energy are directed into other directions than industrial. Neither do. our Arbitration awards assist us in this matter, for -we can only employ a lad for three months without making him an apprentice. If he could bo employed about a builder's shop running messages, learning ■ the use of the hammer ■ and' saw during these two years, ' he would bb . iripre likely to make a good tradesman; when he did_take up the business seriously." 'Mr.'-Bennett urged that attendance at technical schools,. for the study of theory and the acquirement of general knowledge,- should be a condition of apLprenticeship. He suggested that the building trade, like the plumbing trade, should be closed to those who could not prove at examinations their possession of the, proper knowledge and skill. It might be necessary to allow lads time off in working hours in order that they' should attend classes and become proficient workmen. Mr.'Bennett mentioned the part-time schools that arc in' operation in parts of the United States, and 'suggested that if attendance at technical schools were made compulsory; .with a graded series nf examinations'" for young tradesmen, it would, be necessary to establish a Board of Control, with statutory power to watch the interests of employer and nnoi'Piilice. and see that both parties did their- duty. ....

In conclusion, Mr...Bennett made the' following s«ii'igestions :—"Firstly, that where possible members take the maximum number of anprontices allowed by the Court of Arbitration. Secondly, that in "ach' district where there is a technical.school, and no Building Board of Control exists, endeavours be made to getsuch a hoard appointed, by ,annroacl'lng the Technical School Board. Such Board of Control tn consist of one representative from the Architects' institute .Builders' Association, Amal-p-aniated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, and one .-from f.hfl Technical School Board, wilh the Chief Director, who shall act as it* secretary and call meetings. The functions' of this ■Board of Control would be to consult with and edvise the Directors as to best methods of instructing the .pupils, in suitable subjects when setting up the work for the coming sessions. The setting no of examination napors and examinations in practice, the procuring of pupils, and creating a. better •knowledge or the trade amongst narents and guardians, etc. The setting un of visiting committees from the Architects' Institute and Builders' Association, as, well as the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, who shall report to their various bodies on the work being done in the school. Thirdlv, t-hat the association offer, specie! inducements to apprentices to attend the clauses by wav of prizes to those who pass the examinations in the various years, and that the employers e;ive extra, wages to those lads quali- | fying in their -laUt two years of their apprenticeship."