APPRENTICESHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1939, Page 6

APPRENTICESHIP

A REVISION DDE. (Pei Press, Association —Copyright!. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 14; “I'm convinced that the. time is overdue for a revision of the apprenticeship system in New Zealand,” said Dr D E. Hansen, principal of the Christchurch Technical College, discussing yesterday the reluctance of some employers to take on hoys for apprenficeships. “The problem is an urgent ope,” he said, “because at the moment the number of junior apprentices emloyed is much lower than it could be.” Dr Hansen said that many employers were rather dubious about taking on boys. They remembered only toe clearly their difficulties- during the last depression and were reluctant to become too heavily involved. ’Before the depression there were 10,000 apprentices in the Dominion. This number fell to 3000, and the last figures available showed that the number was still well below the original figure. Dr Hansen said that the adult apprenticeship system had brought. very keen workers to the Technical College and had received a ready rseponse, but from all points of view .an overhaul of the whole system was desirable. The Youth Centre in Christchurch in its vocational guidance work ings found that more boys are wanting apprenticeships at the moment than can readily be placed. Mr N. S. Woods, head of the centre, said yesterday that sooner or. later parents and boys would have to face this fact. Particularly was this so among boys wanting to be motor mechanics. ...

On the other hand, there was an increasing demand for, factory, workers, and with the expansion, of - secondary industries in the, city going ahead;,, immediately it seemed likely thgt i demand would incrpa.se. ; Boys who were ; trained for apprenticeships found difficulty..in . them r . but factory work was freely offering.