Untitled

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 11

Tlie Arbitration Court imposes restrictions on the employment of youths, and has done so for years past, with the result that every trade is now rather timid on the subject. Tn tlie first ye.-jr or so of his employment, a boy’s labour is worth comparatively little, and he receives his remuneration, or should receive it, in the teaching and direction that are given him in the factory or tlie shop. Under union pressure, however, the Arbitration Court decreed that a boy must be paid a wage greatly in excess of his average work value, and at the same time imposed an arbitrary limitation on tlie number of boys that could be employed. The result was tlie virtual breakdown of tlie apprenticeship system, and a further result has been seen lately in the great number of quite unskilled labourers seeking employment.— Christchurch ".Star."

The Chancellor of the University of New Zealand points out that the pursuit of research is hindered in two respects. The professors in the colleges have so much teaching to do on the ordinary levels that they are unable to do research work, and cannot stimulate, as they would like to. the -research spirit in their best students. Conditions here and abroad make such work more imperative than ever, but the resources at the University’s command for drawing out talent for this purpose are “conspicuously meagre.”—Auckland “Star.” London fire brigades are mainly equipped with ladders 55ft. iu length, while, in the majority of fires in London, the greatest danger of life is at a height of from 50ft. to 60ft. from the ground.