APPRENTICESHIP PROSPECTS

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 10

APPRENTICESHIP PROSPECTS

RATHER BLACK OUTLOOK [Special to ran ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, November 24. la less than a month several hundred boys will bo looking for jobs, having set the seal upon their educational career by passing the proficiency examination. Most of them will want to enter the skilled trades, for those who desire to take up one or other of the professions or commercial occupations usually go on to the secondary schools. Boys who want to enter the trades as apprentices, however, are faced with rather a black outlook, as vacancies, because of the state of. trade at the present time, are very few. Most of the trades have already their, quota of apprentices, and employers in others dare not risk taking on any apprentices until things look up. A 'reporter of the ‘ Sun ’ made inquiries into the subject' to-day, ami what he found out was not very reassuring. The apprenticeship committees have to consider all applications made to them by employers for the taking on of apprentices, and each application is carefully examined so that a hoy may be sure of getting a good training in the particular trade which he is desirous of following. The reasons for the submission of all applications to the committees concerned are that the employer may not bo a fit man to take on an apprentice. There may bo no guarantee that he 'Prill remain in business long enough to. enable the lad to complete bis training; ha may not have the facilities at his disposal to train the apprentice properly; and he may not have sufficient journeymen to justify his .taking on an apprentice. ’ The result is that there are restrictions upon the employment of apprentices, but these.are made for the apprentice’s own good. The trades are almost all of them full, and the following statement of the condition of the principal ones may bo taken ns a guide by boys and parents:— Plumbing: Apprenticeship quota filled. Painting; Practically no chance at present of a boy getting into. the trade. Electrical work: vacancies almost filled; the quota has been reduced to one to two, the committee having considered that too many apprentices were being taken on. Motor body building: This trade is dependent upon the.revised tariff. If it should go well there are good prospects and vacancies for apprentices. .. Motor mechanics: Vacancies here. Furniture trade: Little chance of an apprentice being taken on. Hairdressing• Some vacancies in this trade. Engineering: Always a few vacancies. Baking! Chances for apprentices here and there. Plastering: Prospects of position not good. Bricklaying : Very few vacancies* Carpentry: Very few vacancies. . Leadlight manufacturing: It has been ordered by the committee that no. boys be taken on until June, 1928. Boot trade: A few vacancies. Printing trade: Always a few vacancies. Although the district quota jins been removed by the Apprenticeship Amendment Act of 1927, the individual quota is still operative, and the Act makes little difference to the committees, except that by working under the individual quota' alone-their task is simplified, . ! .Not much is known yet about, the state of the professions, qxcept. journalism, land teaching. Journalism is

overcrowded at present, ' and every newspaper has a waiting list. Tho Canterbury Education Board has received this .year 160 applications for 93 probationers, which certainly is an improvemetnt upon tho position last year, when the figures were 200 and 60 respectively. Those professions, of course, concern those who are leaving the secondary schqols. Alost of the commercial firms are believed to have waiting lists. There appear to bo opportunities for employment in the retail trades, and to a certain extent in tho warehouses. One branch of the electrical trade which should provide opportunities for employment in future is the radio branch,. A boy who enters tin's trade should have good prospects if, lie has any ability. ■