APPRENTICESHIP

Dominion, Volume 17, Issue 292, 27 August 1923, Page 7

APPRENTICESHIP

NEW LAW INTRODUCED FROM SCHOOLBOY TO SKILLED ARTISAN TRAINING AND WORKING SCHEMES Based on a report of a special committee of experts in industry and education, which took into its review recent experiments in England, Sweden, Australia, and South Africa, a new iaw was introduced Into Parliament on Saturday, which aims at encouraging the aptitude of the boy at school, making his path easy during tho period of apprenticeship on Industry until he becomes a a journeyman, and fills up the gaps in the ranks of skilled artisans. s

New legislation was introduced on Saturday afternoon in the House of Representatives, to apply to those employers (and theii apprentices), who are, at the time of its coming into operation, bound by an award of the Arbitration Court or an industrial agreement, regarding apprentices. The Bill does not apply to females, except in such cases as are directed by the Court, which is also empowered to exempt students of university or other educational institutions. Nor does it apply to any apprenticeship contract that has been in force for a period exceeding two years at the time when the Bill would otherwise apply. Apprenticeship Committees. Where the parties agree to the appointment of an apprenticeship committee. it shall have the same nowers as if set up by the Court, which may exercise the function of appointing an apprenticeship committee, on its own motion or the application of any person interested'. The committee shall comprise an equal number of representatives of employers and employees, with such other persons as the Court may direct or the parties agree upon. The committee shall not be allowed fees, except in special cases. Powers of Arbitration Court. As soon as practical je after the coming into force of the Bill the Arbitration Court may make orders, concerning wages, hours and conditions of employment of apprentices, the proportion of apprentices and their period, and minimum commencing wage. The Court has wide powers, which include cancellation of contract, prohibition of employment, transfer of apprentices, facilities for acquiring knowledge of their industry, period of probation, attendance of apprentices at technical school, examination of apprentices, inspection of apprentices at their work, and determination of proportion of apprentices to journeymen. The Court may delegate its powers (with the exception of fixation of wages, etc.), to the committee. There shall be the right of appeal from the decision of the committee to the Court. Contracts and Penalties. The Bill also provides for a register of apprentices, to be kept by Labour Department officials, inspectors of factories. etc. Contracts must be in writing, and, if the apprentice is under 21, must be signed! by the parent or guardian. Officials, to be known as district registrars of apprenticeship, are authorised to review contracts and to refuse registration, the right of appeal to the Court being, however, conceded; Contracts entered .into prior to coming into operation of the Bill shall be registered. Either party to the contract has the right of registration, but the initiative is expected from the employer. The Bill provides for heavy penalties. There is a fine not exceeding £5O for a breach by employers, and a similar fine for persons inducing or procuring any party 0 a contract 0 commit any breach. There is a provision for joint contracts of apprenticeship. Two or more employers in any industry in the same locality may enter into a contract of apprenticeship with the same apprentice or apprentices, subject to the approval of the Court or the committee, who are also empowered 0 approve of special apprenticeship contracts, in the case of adults already in possession of knowledge or skill in any industry. Attaining tho age of 21 years does not give the right 0 cancel a contract, and parents or guardians are bound during the minor period. Contracts may, however, be cancelled by either party to them during the period of probation. Power is given for the relief of employers from apprenticeship contracts in case of slackness of work, subject to investigation of the circumstances by the district registrar or committee. Appeal to the Court is allowed, as in other cases. Training Institution. The head teacher, on being requested by the registrar or district registrar, shall forward to the parent or guardian a report, jegarding standard of education of the child, his attainments and aptitude, and , any other matters deemed relevant. To do this, the head teacher is required to watch carefully tho progress of each child in th upper classes. If employers desire the establishment of an institution for the training of young persons in any industry, the Court may order that the employers in the industry and locality shall contribute to the cost. Such institution may become a registered school. Ihe Court may specify the method of ascertaining the cost of such institution and tr.e procedure to be adopted for its collection. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON BILL SCHEME NOT APPLICABLE 'TO FEMALES The report of the committee appointed to take evidence on apprenticeship and vocational training, in connection with the amending legislation to be introduced was tabled in the House of Representatives bn Saturday. I he committee consisted -f: Messrs. T 0. Bishop (representing employers), F D. Cornwell <representing workers), Professor Marsden (Assistant-Director of Education), and F. W. Rowley (secretary, Department of Labour). The committee states that important conferences have been ’held recently in Great Britain, Canada, South Africa, and in several of the Australian States, and recent legislation has been enacted in South Africa, and Queensland. Comprehensive reports have been prepared by a conference in

Victoria, and bv the Board of Trade in New South Wales (whose report has been adopted in one trade, bricklaying), white several schemes of apprenticeships have been adopted by private arrangement in other countries.

“The question at issue,” says the report, “is therefore a two-fold one — namely, (a) the shortage of workers, together with the methods that should, be adopted to increase the number so, as to maintain the supply of future journeymen; and (b) the question whether the apprenticeship system should be altered and placed under control and supervision in order, to ensure that adequate training is given. Touching upon (a) —the shortage of ap prentices —the evidence obtained varies in the different industries. As regards, (c) —viz., the question whether the apprenticeship system is now out of date —the results of conferences and the conclusions of experts who have recently dealt with these matters m other countries are in favour of a remodelling of the system, rather than, its abolition. The committee considers that, following upon the recognised necessity that primary-school education should be given 0 all children irrespective of their future walk of life, so every endeavour should be made to ensure that on leaving the .primary schools boys will enter occupations can culated 0 encourage their mental ana physical development. Such a training would not only avoid the deaden-, ing effect of monotonous unskilled work upon the intelligence of the. growing bovs, but would enable the boys to adapt. themselves to the changing conditions of industry as they arise from time to time.” Committee Recommendations. The committee recomends the following ensures: — (1.) That the curricula of the primary schools should more definitely include handwork and handicrafts as gen; eral educational methods, and that proficiency in handicrafts should be ex-, pressly recognised in. the certificates given 0 children leaving the primary schools. . . . . . (2.) That the courses in junior high schools should include at least one course for boys and one for girls in which handicrafts are specially studied, while such subjects should form an in-, tegral part of all courses. (3.) That, in order to give equal standing to all courses in every secondary school, tile present matriculation examination should be replaced, preferably by an accrediting system so arranged as to enable any pupil who has satisfacorily followed a suitable course to attend the university as a matriculated student for. further general or professional training. Leaving-certifi-cates should certify, as at present, to the total time occupied in the study of each subject taken, and the standard attained. 1 If. however, it be not found practicable to eliminate entirely such examinations as matriculation, it ’s suggested that the number of compulsory subjects should be reduced to a minimum, and a wide choice of optional subjects given, covering a range ofmanual and artistic as well as purely intellectual subjects. The matriculation examination, if retained, should be modified so that courses leading to matriculation may form a suitable pre. paration for industrial occupation as well as for the professions. The committee has included in the Bill a similar provision to that in the Queensland regualtions, empowering an association of employers in an industry to become responsible for a certain number of apprentices. - The evidence obtained regarding ternate workers in trades goes to show (says the report) that it would not be practicable to apply the scheme in its entirety to female apprentices. . The average working period of girls m factories is said to be only about eight years, and the period of their apprenticeship is also comparatively short.