WAR INDUSTRIES

Evening Star, Issue 23724, 4 November 1940, Page 3

WAR INDUSTRIES

TRAINING FOB SKILLED WORKERS [Pun United Phess Association.] WELLINGTON, November 2. The Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) to-day announced a scheme to provide training for skilled workers in essential war industries. Investigations have been made by a committee of experts respresenting the employers, the employed, aud the Government departments concerned into the question of speeding up the training of skilled men, and a scheme lias been prepared which will afford facilities lor training workers in those branches of industry where a definite need for skilled men exists in order to speed up the war effort. A start will be made in the engineering industry in the Wellington district, and it is proposed to invite applications forthwith from those workers not eligible for immediate military service and who have some aptitude for mechanical work. A committee comprising a representative of employers and workers together with the secretary of Labour and the superintendent of technical education will select the requisite number. The scheme provides for a period of intensive training in workshop practice at a technical college under special instructors, and', on completion, a worker will be drafted into the lessskilled trades of an industry, thus enabling employers to adopt a process of grading up in respect to workers already Tn a trade. During the period of training an allowance will be paid'. On being drafted into an industry a person so trained will bo regarded as an auxiliary worker and will be paid award rates. A committee representing the employers and the workers’ union and' a representative of the Department of Labour will watch the progress of an auxiliary worker till such time as he becomes' efficient in his trade. Applications arc to be made to the placement officer.