Few Vacancies For Apprentices In Grey District

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1948, Page 4

Few Vacancies For Apprentices In Grey District

There are more boys seeking apprenticeships in trades in the Grey district at the present time than there are vacancies.-1n fact, some industries are employing a greater percentage of apprentices than is usual in other parts of the Dominion.

This was one of the facts commented on.in an interview with the Evening Star today by Mr S. W. Armstrong, of Christchurch, District Commissioner of Apprenticship, who is making his first official visit to the West Coast in connection with the administration of the new apprenticeship regulations. In the Grey district (the area supervised by the Department of Labour and Employment at Gveymouth) there are approximately LuO registered apprentices, excluding females, who are in effect apprenticed to the trades by virtue of provisions in relative awards. Of this number 12 are in receipt, of the lodging allowance paid by the department. Lodging Allowance

Referring to this allowance, Mr 'Armstrong said that it had proved to be of considerable assistance to boys who found it necessary to leave their homes to learn the trade of their choice. The allowance is on a slidmg scale, from the maximum of £65 a year and decreasing each six months as the recipient’s wages increase. It was possible that this allowance could be used to assist some of the good material offering in Greymouth at present, if the boys concerned were prepared to leave their homes to learn a trade. Scope for apprentices in the “popular”, trades, such as engineering and cabinetmaking was definitely limited in the Grey district. Mr Armstrong stressed that it was evident that there were a number of employers who were either ignorant of, or' were ignoring the provisions of the Apprentices’ Amendment Act, 1946. In Greymouth itself officers of the Department of Labour had not had much difficulty, but in the outlying areas some employers were still ignoring the warnings that they must comply with the section of the amendment dealing with the engagement of apprentices. It is now necessary for the employer to obtain prior consent of the district commissioner or the apprenticeship* committee before the apprentice is engaged or before any contract of apprenticeship is entered into, whether the proposed apprentice is to be on probation or otherwise. This is a complete change from the provision formerly existing whereby the apprentice was engaged and the district registrar notified within, three days of the engagement. Mr Armstrong added that he was not empowered to back date a contract and that he did not propose to register a contract with, a commencing date that was prior to the date of consent. “As the new provision had now been in force for over 12 months,” ho snicl, “It is intended to enforce it.” Closer Liaison It was also pointed out . by Mr Armstrong that it was now intended to maintain closer liaison with apprentices and their employers. “We do not intend merely to register a contract and let it go at that, he said. “We will watch the apprentice throughout his five years (or specified number of hours as the new orders will set out) and see that he becomes a competent journeyman. This evening Mr Armstrong will meet the various apprenticeship committees and other interested parties at Greymouth and will discuss with them the provisions of the amended Act. There are now five apprenticeship committees operating in this district, engineering, motor and electrical engineering; furniture trades, plumbers; painters; carpenters and joiners.