APPRENTICE ENQUIRY

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1944, Page 4

APPRENTICE ENQUIRY

REGISTRATION OF TRADESMEN. PA. WELLINGTON, June 22 Giving evidence on behalf of the Federation of Boot Trades Associations before the Apprenticeship Commission, Mr. G. Shields advocated a system of registration of skilled tradesmen. To-day, he said, there was little inducement for a youth to consider apprenticeship, as there was little differentiation in the wages of a skilled tradesman and a labourer. Unless something was done quickly there was going to be a greater shortage of skilled workers as time went on. Unless seme measure of protection was afforded the skilled tradesman against the unskilled there was little use in pressing for an amendment of the apprenticeship law. As long as a trade was open to all comers, irrespective of trade qualifications, it was merely a waste of time discussing the subject. If skilled men received proper recognition a system of registration would soon work smoothly, and incidentally, the cost of production would be substantially lowered.