LABOR PROBLEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9577, 31 July 1923, Page 3

LABOR PROBLEMS.

APPRENTICES AND ARBITRATION ASSESSORS. WELLINGTON. July 30. On Hie laying on (lie (able of the annua! report of the Labor Department, the. lion. J. A. Haniin stressed the need: for improved conditions for apprentices, as trades were sufferin'; in consequence of tlie scarcity of young tradesmen coming on. Mr. Wilrord urged that the time had come when the permanent assessors rn the Arbitration Court should be abolished. as it was impossible for any two men to become familiar with the details of every trade and business.

Mr. McCombs said there was something to bo said for permanent assessors, ns otherwise the awards of the Court would no! bo co-ordinated ind made uniform. It any alteration was made it should go in the direction of adding to the Court two experts to belong to the particular trade or business involved in the dispute. As a matter of practice this was sometimes done by the Court now, but. it should be made part of tlm system. The Minister, in reply, said he bad been gathering a great deal of information regarding apprentices, but ‘•liesubject was not an easy one to dispose i'of. The fact, was that our education system was to a great extent to blame for the shortage of apprentices, as very few boys cared to take their coats off and go to work at a dirty trade. —V.A.