EXAMINATION OF MOTOR MECHANICS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 28 July 1933, Page 6

EXAMINATION OF MOTOR MECHANICS

(To the Editor.)

.■ Sir,—ln your issue 1 of yesterday is publisted an account of an interview with the Minister of Labour by a deputation oi union secretaries in reference to the examination of motor mechanics. If the speakers are correctly reported some of the statements made are incorrect xind misleading. The Minister will doubtless ascertain the true facts'of the case, biit as a large section of the public is affected, I would ask the favour of space in your columns to set out the facts. The certification-of motor mechanics has been undertaken to meet the wishes of. the' motorists' . associations, and the movement has their approval. It was the intention of the Auckland Automobile Association to undertake the examination of motor mechanics, but it was felt by members of the motor trade organisation that this was" the legitimate work of the motor trade, and the Auckland Automobile Association gave way on the understanding that action was taken by the trade.'

The plan described herewith wag adopted by the motor trade organisation after it had been carefully considered by- the branches of the organisation throughout the Dominion. The plan is in two sections: —

(a) The examination and certification of motor mechanics. (b) The inspection and classification o£ garages. ,

The plan is controlled by a board set up at a general meeting of members of the association. The personnel of the board is:—Mr. E. J. M. Ferguson, New Plymouth; Mr. F. B. Cadman, Auckland; Mr. J. Broun, Wellington; Mr. L. N. Montgomery, Nelson; Mr. F. Smallbone, Ashburton; Mr. Jas. Black, Dunedin. All these gentlemen are well known, and five are practical engineers of high standing. At the outset two • seats on the board of six were offered to nominees of the Workers' Union, but the offer was not accepted. The examinations are conducted by. two qualified practical men selected from a very large number of applicants from all parts of the Dominion. The examination fee is £1 Is with an additional £1 Is to candidates who qualify for a certificate. This fee is as low as it is possible to make it to cover the cost of examination. The Examiners have visited every town of any importance in the Dominion, and mechanics have had to give up only two hours of their time to sit for this examination.

Over five hundred mechanics have already been examined, and 77 per cent, have qualified for A grade certificates. In every case application' to be examined has been made by the mechanic, and I have no knowledge of. any coercion by employers. , ~' ■ The classification of garages has been undertaken/to make the plan effective and to secure payment of a fair wage to those mechanics who secure a. certificate. The garage proprietors of the Dominion have been invited to work under the plan, and so far over two hundred have made application.

Inspection of the premises, plant, and equipment of these has already been mado, and those that have been passed were notified this week that their names will be entered on.the register of certified A grade garages, and the official emblem issued to them on acceptance of an undertaking. -

1. To employ one certified A. grade mechanic for every three or fraction of three mechanics employed.

2. To pay to certified A grade men 2d per hour more than the minimum wage provided in the award, or if no award is in force, to pay such men no less than 2s per hour

Should a breach be made of either of these conditions, or should the garage proprietor be found guilty of unfair treatment of a client or of any»action which might bring into disrepute the good name of the motor trade, the emblem may be withdrawn and the name of the garage proprietor removed from the list 'of certified A grade garages., '' . The plan is just nearing completion, and when the forms issued this week to garages who have qualified are completed and returned, the list will be compiled and the plan will take effect. I enclose copy, of booklet containing "syllabus of examination and particulars .of plan, which was issued to motor mechanics when they were invited to sit for the examination. You will see there ia no promise made or implied that a mechanic on passing this examination will have' his wages raised automatically by twopence per hour wherever he may be employed, as was stated to the Minister recently. The obligation ,to pay this increased wage as <\ already.set out is binding only on those employers who have accepted the plan. ' . . ■ ■"" Practical experience will doubtless lead to improvements in the plan, which is an honest endeavour to remove a stigma from the motor trade, and should benefit both workers aud employers.

The,success of the plan must depend on the -support that motor owners give to those motor traders ivho have undertaken this obligation.—l am, etc.,

J. F. COUSINS, General Sec, N.Z. Motor Trade Association (Incorp.)