APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 16 September 1933, Page 7

APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.

SECURING MORE ELASTICITY. INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 16. Legislation will be introduced this session by the Minister of Labour, Hon. A. Hamilton, to secure more elasticity in connection with, the apprenticeship system. It is understood that the Apprentices Bill, introduced last session, is not being proceeded with. This measure went before the Labour Bills Committee, which heard a good deal of evidence. It contained a proposal for the establishment of an apprenticeship council for the Dominion, with a number of apprenticeship committees to supervise the contracts between the employers and apprentices, but tlie measure met with strong objections, the employers’ opinion being that- the whole system was so restrictive that they prefer > not to teach boys trades under the ap- ; prenticeship contracts. -, The committee of parliamentarians 'who investigated the problem of juvenile unemployment reported to Parliament supporting the view that, unless necessary alterations were made in the law to remove the irksome restrictions Snd meet the changed conditions, the faking on of apprentices would not be incouraged. ■ “This,” they added, “would be a serious matter for the youth of the counfry, who would be denied the opportunity of being trained in useful vocations, and the result would eventually be that, when trade conditions return to something like normality, bind the demand for skilled men is increased, they would have to be imported and our own boys would become the unskilled workers.”

'f. It is expected that the coming 'measure will provide for less, restrictive arrangements under which boys ■will be taught skilled occupations, and tlat provision for the employment of juniors will be more adequately recognised in law. It is understood that there is no intention of introducing anj amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act.