A SERIOUS EVIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18571, 25 November 1920, Page 10

A SERIOUS EVIL.

LACK OF APPRENTICES. "Wo must have apprentices," said Mr Leitch a* a meeting of tho Sydney Water and Sewage Board tho other day (says tho " Sun ").

Tho question of apprentices had cropped up, and Sir Thomas Henley had made a pessimistic reference to finance. "On© of the greatest evils of the day, auguring ill for the future, is the lack or apprentices,' continued Mr Leitch. " They are our moßt important need in industry. If wo had' had more apprentices in the building trade in the past, wo would not now be suffering so badlv from n shortage, of houses." Sir Thomas Henley: We'll have to put men off soon. We Will not have tho money to carry out extensions. Alderman Griffin: We should train apprentices for our own use. Mr Leitch: It is true that apprentices have been discouraged in the building trade. I do not believe that you will find a dozen apprentices to bricklaying in Sydney. It is extremely difficult to apprentice a boy, aa only ono apprentice is allowed to every five .-journeymen. Sir Thomas Henley: It's not only that —they compel an employer to pay a boy. as much money aa a man; more than he is worth.

It was decided to invito applications from boys desirous of being apprenticed to trades under the board, the period of training to bo from sixteen to twenty, one years of age.