APPRENTICESHIP ORDERS

Evening Star, Issue 22576, 18 February 1937, Page 6

APPRENTICESHIP ORDERS

ARE THEY SUBJECT TO FACTORIES’ AMENDMENT? COURT RESERVES DECISION [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 17. The question whether existing apprenticeship orders are subject to the limitations of the Factories Amendment Act of last year was submitted to the Arbitration Court to-day, when an application was made by the Department of Labour for an interpretation of the furniture trades apprentices’ award. After hearing argument, the court reserved its decision. The case is of considerable importance to the employers and the workers. It was submitted by Mr E. J. Foot, for the apprentices, that all apprenticeship • contracts, whether entered into before or after July 1, 1936, were subject to section 12 of the Factories Act. After quoting certain legal decisions concerned with apprentices, Mr Foot said that- in order .that the existing orders should prevail special exemption' should have been made fin the'j Factories Act, or, alternatively, some provision made in the Apprentices Act that its orders should prevail over other legislation. ; For the employers, Mr T.,0. Bishop contended that the- spirit and - underlying intention of the Factories Act was to confer benefits upon 'factory workers. If it could be shown that results contrary to this intention would accrue from the application of the Factories Act to apprentices, and instead of benefits being conferred upon those whom the Act purported to serve there would actually. bo created such anomalies as to he prejudicial to the interests of apprentices, then in the absence of any specific provisions in the Act that it did apply to apprentices, it must be held not to apply. He held that the application of the Factories Act to apprentices would create such anomalies and would, in fact, be prejudicial to the interests of boys seeking apprenticeship in manufacturing industries. At the conclusion of the hearing Mr Justice Page said that the court would take time to consider its decision.