A USEFUL SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 10

A USEFUL SCHEME

Full particulars of the scheme for training building tradesmen are not given in the announcement made by the Acting Minister of Labour. It is not explained, for instance, how thel technical school training is to be worked with a shortened ■ subsidised apprenticeship. This is an important detail since the success of the plan will depend in no small degree upon the quality of instruction, whether in school or on actual building work, given in the shorter period. After two years for bricklayers and three years for carpenters and joiners, journeymen's wages are to be paid, so that the training given must be such that the young men will be able to earn full pay. Subject !to this being satisfactorily arranged, the scheme should prove most useful in finding occupation for older youths and relieving the labour shortage in the building trade. There are, of course, objections to subsidies, but with reasonable supervision these should not outweigh the advantages. After all, the present difficulty arose from an extraordinary depression and extraordinary measures are necessary to correct it. The co-op-eration of the labour organisations appears to be assured so that there should be no complaint of attempts to provide cheap labour. If the employers in the industry are also in a position to assist (and Mr. Webb does not mention this) the scheme should be carried out smoothly. t , Though the period of training is shortened, however, it will still _be advisable to plan works with due regard for available labour resources. The shortage of skilled tradesmen will hot be corrected immediately. If, therefore, an attempt is made to rush building too much, the only result will be to force up costs by competition for labour. A Government that hopes to construct not only many houses but houses reasonably priced cannot afford to ignore this. In England where costs have had a rising tendency consideration has had to be given to slackening in the rate of construction. This must' also be done here. Rising costs show that more is being attempted than the trade can undertake. The obvious remedy is to adjust the work so that it does not strain the capacity of the trade. With its big building plans the Government can provide this measure of elasticity. Not all of the house-con-struction is equally urgent, nor all pf the public building. Cases of hardship can be met by giving preference of occupation to applicants now living under unhygienic and crowded conditions. Similarly with public buildings, the most urgent works should be first undertaken, and others put in hand as labour (after allowing for the private building demand) becomes available. It would be extremely unwise to force the pace with free use of public' credit. Even the advocates of public credit systems must admit this, for their own argument is that money must be found to facilitate the development for which labour and materials are waiting. If the labour i is not available the use of public credit to intensify further the demand must raise costs and produce an| unhealthy boom. .