A GIRLS’ HOME

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 214, 24 August 1927, Page 3

A GIRLS’ HOME

QUESTION FOR ARBITRATION COURT. Christchurch, Aug. 23. The Arbitration Court n'as asked to-day to add the Mount Magdala Home, an institution for girls, conducted by a Roman Catholic Church, as a party to the Shirt and Silk Workers’ Award. One of the points raised concerned apprenticeship. It was argued that as the home was accepting work in competition with private firms, it should be subject to the same regulations as the other manufacturers. On the other hand, it was pointed out that girls often were committed to the home only for a short period, not long enough for a full apprenticeship term, and they could not be held to complete the apprenticeship.

His Honour said to make the home a party to the award might result in difficulty. A similar position had arisen in Auckland, in which a blind institute was involved, but in that case the difficulty was overcome by the authorities undertaking not to sell the output at a price to undercut the business houses. His Honour said the Court would hold over the question until the authorities of the home were consulted, posibly with a view to an arrangement being made similar to that for the blind institute at Auckland.