THE CANTERBURY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11556, 18 April 1898, Page 6

THE CANTERBURY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In the discussion on the sub-commit-tee’s report on technical education, which appeared in your paper last week, Mr Congreve said “ boys were not learning their trades at present and something in the nature of the Act (the Master and Apprentice Act) was wanted.” I am inclined to think that he is about right. Recently I made a similar statement at a meeting, and it was corroborated by a painter that it was so in his trade. During the winter of 1895, when a fund was raised to give the unemployed work, I believe it was stated at the dose of the work, that nearly all the men who were out of work were without trades: Some two or three months ago, at Lyttelton, a very old building was pulled down (to be replaced by a new one), the timber of which was found to be as good as the day when it was built; also, the workmanship was clearly seen to have been done by thoroughly practical men. At the time it was pointed out what a difference existed in both instances now. Before 'the date of the Otago Jubilee the “Taieri Advocate” wrote ;—“ * * * Tradesmen of all kinds are in demand * * * Building ’ trade is very brisk, and no good tradesmen need go short of work. Of course there are some socalled tradesmen who cannot obtain work, but, upon inquiry, they generally prove to be only half-taught men who cannot be relied upon to turn out good work. In the trades named ’ (blacksmiths, painters, tailors and building) no good workmen need be idle.” Captain Russell, in “ Hansard,” on the debate, on the Master and i Apprentice Bill, said i “I admit that; speaking from experience in the country, when one wanted a carpenter, or plumber, or an artisan of any kind whatsoever, one finds that it is an uncommonly difficult matter to get a properly skilled mall ; and ,■ as a matter of fact, many of the workmen to be found up the country are hip.'better than ti® handy man who works on the station. In/ the.interests of the artisan and Those .wlioiernplby.'him, that ought not to be. In Wellington, out. pf seven hundred carpenters, there were not ahundrfed who could really be called efficient tradesmen. I would, like; to see, myself, some means devised by which men shall be taught their trade all round, and so prevent the system of having men qualified only in one particular branch of it.” To this last quotation I say, “Bravo, Captain Russell.” To be brief, I will give only two local instances. In one of the tailoring establishments here, a boy was kept on the plain garment continually, promising to be put on the more difficult one in due course. The promise was never kept, but a new boy was brought in and put on the difficult garment right away. No. 1 boy did not like it, and spoke about it. The boy was 1 taken away by his relatives and got work elsewhere. In one of the largo establishments. 1 (the iron trade) here, a boy was dissatisfied; because the foreman of the department he was in taught and gave his own son all ' the difficult work to do (sometimes out of sight) to the detriment of the other boys. That boy also left and got a job elsewhere. In tho report I notice the words—- “ The proper place to learn the use of tools is the workshop, and the proper time the period of apprenticeship.” But the Chairman “ thought that there was little doubt that if the Bill (Master and Apprentice Bill) was introduced in any shape similar to that of last year, the Association would he equally strenuous in its exertions against it.” The President’s action in declining to discuss the Master and Apprentice Bill with the Trades and Labour Council was confirmed by the General Committee. One of the .committee "thought the Association should use all its whole force against the passing of any such Act.” I was sorry to see this, because I was in hope that a friendly conference on the above Bill would take place, on the grounds of a “give and take,policy.” If.not, how is “and the pro-, per time the period of apprenticeship” to conie'about? Sjr Robert Stout, in “ Hansard,” on the debate on the same Bill, said—- “ This is the seventh or eighth Bill that has' been before the Parliament of New Zealand, and I am sorry to say that I think this is the worst of all. It is full of blunders.” I, am sorry for Sir Robert Stout, that he could sit in his place in Parliament and sea so many Master ai\d Apprentice Bills brought forward without attempting to draft a simple, commonsense one himself. We want an equitable' measure, not to harass either side. If Parliament, supposed to be the picked intelligence of the colony, cannot pass a measure to suit both master and servant, it is simply disgraceful. My contention is not so much as to the number of boys to a man as that the boy should be taught his trade, no matter what is. Where there are a number of apprentices, the smart, bright, intelligent and civil gets on best; for, as the member for Wellington (Mr J. Hutcheson) said, ’as things exist at present, neither the master nor the journeyman are under any obligation i.o teach the boy.” Another thing, there should be a probation time, say two or three months on either side, to see if the boy suits the master and the boy the trade. I believe before you can practice as a lawyer in the courts, you have to pass a certain standard in law, and belong to the New Zealand Law Society. Now, this is just what the workers contend for, and if it is law and right for the body of lawyers to do so, it is just the same for the body of workers to do so.—l am, &c., *D. LUM^DEN.