MUNITIONS MAKING

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1940, Page 6

MUNITIONS MAKING

In New Zealand TRAINING OF WORKERS. CHRISTCHURCH, ’December 16. Plans for the training in Christchurch of auxiliary workers, to be employed factories and workshops engaged in munitions production, were advanced considerably recently when an advisory committee was set up, representing the Canterbury Ironmasters’ Association and the metal trades group of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. The decision arose from a conference of these two bodies at which Mr A. W. Nisbet, chairman' of the Wellington Emergency Training Committee, described the measures taken in Wellington, and the progress already made in the selection of trainees. Mr Nisbet said that in Wellington, where the scheme had been tried out to a certain extent, the training was at present confined to welding and machine shop practice, but later it would be extended to other trades, particularly the footwear industry. Applications for admission to training in Christchurch would be received by the State Placement Service, but the selection of trainees would be made by an emergency training committee, Mr Nisbet added. The Government would pay these auxiliary workers an allowance of £4 13s 4d a week during their training and, on completion of their course, which was expected to take about four months, they would be posted to factories by the local committee. They would then be paid the wages prescribed by the award covering their particular trade,, Fitters and turnery, for example, would be taken on as sec-ond-ciass machinists, and paid 2s 7id an hour plus 5 per cent. A further meeting was held, at which Mr F. N. Lawrence, president of the Canterbury Ironmasters.’ Association, presided. The president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr A. M. Hollander) and the director of the Christchurch Technical College (Dr. D. E. Hansen) were also prseent. Pending the establishment of an auxiliary training committee, the local advisory committee was set up as follows:—Mr Lawrence (chairman), Mr C. S. Peate, and Mr L. K Penfold. Tniss committee will confer with Dr. Flansen and with Mr G. T. Thurston, secretary of the Engineering and Allied Trades Union, on a syllabus for the course of training.