TERRITORIALS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 127, 2 June 1927, Page 15

TERRITORIALS

CAMP TRAINING

APPRENTICES' WAGES

A. committee of the Wellington Chamber of .Commerce has had under consideration a request from the Feilding -Chamber of Commerce for support in its representations against the extension of camp training for Territorials whereby employers are deprived of the services of these employees for an additional three days in camp. ; The committee renorted to the council of the chamber on Tuseday that it found on investigation that this applied in the case of outlying districts, and tbe Defence Department has adopted this course with a view to keeping down expenses by substituting the additional three days' camp training .in lieu of the six half-day! parades and twelve drills prescribed iti tho military regulations. "In such districts," says the report, "there are obvious advantages in the new provisions. It is recognised that the continuity of training iv camp ensures greater efficiency and better discipline, and the trainees return from camp benefited in health and in other ways..----"In, the case of apprentices, the employer,l must pay the apprentice wages without deduction for time involved in the canip training. The evening and half-day parades came out of the employees' time, but camp training comes out of the employer's time; hence, if the additional period in camp is takenin lieu of the. evening parades, the employer is suffering loss of the whole time, and the employee contributing nothing. Particularly where a trainee fails to attend evening or half-day parades, and is compelled to undergo camp training in lieu, there is some injustice. Through the default of the employee the employer is compelled to make payment for the full time away, and is not permitted by law to make any wage deductions. "Your committee recommends that representations' be made to the New Zealand 1 Employers' Federation upon this point, suggesting that when next any awards affecting apprentices come up for considerati-n that steps be taken to incorporate a provision protecting, the employers in this." The;report was adopted.