GROCERY TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 75, 26 September 1944, Page 3

GROCERY TRADE

TRAINING OF ASSISTANTS

Classes for the training of grocers' assistants were discussed by the Wellington Techincal College Board of Governors last night. It was decided to defer decision until the board's next meeting, the matter in the meantime to be referred to the commercial committee. Mr. W. Appleton presided.The director, Mr R. G. Ridling, said he had discussed the matter v/ith a representative of the Wellintgon Master Grocers' Association. During the first three years the course would be adequate for the preparation of senior assistants. The fourth year demanded further study of business methods and px-actice, buying, and a general knowledge associated with commercial life. The association suggested that courses should commence in the 1945 session.

The chairman, welcoming a written application by the association, said that the board should do all it could to further the courses. *

Was it the intention to put in classes for all shop assistants? asked Mr. W. A. Fox. It- was unlikely that the request would stop at grocers. The courses proposed by himself, said Mr. Ridling, were such that they w6uld be valuable to any member of the commercial community. The teacher would be a part-time man drawn from the industry. It would mean a permanent additional member of the staff.

The relative value of trades, professions, and callings should be fully gone into before the matter of training assistants was considered, said Mr. L. J. McDonald.

The chairman said that if people came forward wanting to improve themselves it was the job of.the college to try to help them. It need not be confined to grocers' assistants.

Mr. L. J. McDonald: If all the trades made similar applications could we meet them?

The chairman: I say that we should meet them. One of the fundamental weaknesses today is the setting up of young people in business who do not know anything about it. What would be the relationship of the proposed course to the present commercial course, he was asked. About two-thirds of the course would suit everybody, said Mr. Appleton. Only one-third would be special training.

Provided that there were 20 students waiting to form a class, the board was required to give them technical instruction. It seemed that some members of the board were unaware of that. It did not matter much, from what rank or profession of civic life the request came from. If the board could not provide the classes, then it might be necessary to provide further technical colleges. Facilities for technical education must be made available to the community, and it was the job of the board to provide classes where the demand was adequate.