BANKRUPT FIRMS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1931, Page 7

BANKRUPT FIRMS

WHAT OF APPRENTICES?

A DIFFICULT MATTER

The difficulty which was being experienced by apprentices,whose employers had gone out of business in obtaining further employment was raised in the House of Representatives last night by Mr. W. Nash (Labour, Hutt) during the discussion on the Labour Department's Estimates.

Mr. Jsasli asked whether the Government would control the amount o£ home work that some manufacturers were giving employees. This system had been a pernicious onu in England and was creeping into New Zealand. Mr. Xash also asked whether the Government was doing anything in connection with apprentices who had boon thrown out of employment as the result of the firms employing them cither going bankrupt or liquidating. Many apprentices who found themselves iv this position were unable to find other employment and wore thus unablo to complete their apprenticeship. He asked whether the Minister could put forward a scheme whereby the boys could finish their apprenticeships at technical colleges.

In reply, the Minister of Labour (tho Hon. A. Hamilton) said that he was not aware that there was a great deal of home work being done by employees at the present time, but he would look into the matter and see if there was a possibility of remedying it. The difficulty in regard to apprenticeships had greatly increased late* ly, and the problem of finding them employment in the event of the firm which had engaged them going bankrupt was a difficult one. He did not know whether it would be possible to allow the boys to finish their apprenticeship at technical colleges. That might be a way out, but he did not know what it would cost or whether technical colleges were sufficiently advanced for the purpose.