APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM

Evening Star, Issue 21518, 16 September 1933, Page 17

APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM

LEGISLATION BY GOVERNMENT LESS RESTRICTED ARRANGEMENTS [From Our Own Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 16. _ Legislation will be introduced this session by tho Minister of Labour to secure more elasticity in connection with the apprenticeship system. It is understood that the Apprentices Bill, which was introduced last session, is not being proceeded with. This measure went before the Labour Bills Committee, which heard a good deal of evidence. _ It contained a proposal for the establishment of an apprenticeship council for the dominion, with a.number of apprenticeship committees to supervise contracts between employers and apprentices, but the measure met with strong objections, the employers’ opinion being that the whole system was so restrictive that they prefer not to teach boys trades under apprenticeship contracts. A committee of members of Parliament who investigated the problem of juvenile employment reported to Parliament supporting the view that unless the necessary alterations were made in the law to remove irksome restrictions and to meet the changed conditions, the taking on of apprentices would not be encouraged. “ This,” they added, “ would be a serious matter for the youth of the country, who would be denied the opportunity of being trained in useful vocations, and the result eventually would be that when trade conditions returned to something like normality, and the demand for skilled men increased, they would have to be imported, and our own boys would become the unskilled workers.” _ It is expected that the coming measure will provide for less restrictive arrangements under which boys will hr taught skilled ocupations, and that provision for the employment of juniors will be more adequately recognised in law. It is understood that there is no intention of introducing any amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act.