“HASTENING TO UTTER EXTINCTION”

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 106, 29 January 1938, Page 10

“HASTENING TO UTTER EXTINCTION”

Boot Manufacturing Trade DIFFICULTY OF ENGAGING APPRENTICES Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 28. One effect of the reduction of the number of operatives in the bootmanufacturing trade is that proprietors in many instances are said to be finding it practically impossible to engage new apprentices, because such lads would be a surplus to the proportion allowed to journeymen. Manufacturing methods have changed greatly and are changing still, and the view is taken that the development of industry is dependent on the training of adequate apprentices to meet the new conditions. “Because of restrictions placed on us by law in the employment of labour w r e are fast hastening to the utter extinction of the boot trade,” said the proprietor of one large firm. “At the present time the trade, like all our secondary industries, is in the most parlous state, not so much through importations but through the unnecessary and irksome regulations under which we are compelled to conduct our business. In a few years’ time skilled boot operatives will be so scarce that they will be fit exhibits for a museum. What we want are lads strong, clean and active—similar, indeed, to the type I, have just through regulations been compelled to dismiss—who can be taught by ourselves the trade as it now is “If there were a spurt in the industry there would be a scarcity of suitable labour. About eight month?, ago, when trade was fairly busy, there was not a really highly-skilled man unemployed. I will admit there were a few unfortunate men unemployed who had little or no experience in the use of the highly intricate machines now customary in the trade. What is required, and without this the trade will peter out, is our New Zealand lads who cau, with sound education, particularly in technical training, and with the aid of overseas experts if necessary, be taught what is now a highly technical and skilled industry.” » The boot manufacturer concluded with the remark that it would be a pity if a business such as the one with which he was associated, which had been built up always with the employees’ interests in view and on which some 450 to 500 people were should by constant pin-pricks and unnecessary interference be pulled down and brought to naught.