TRADE SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 209, 2 August 1935, Page 14

TRADE SCHOOLS.

FOR WORKLESSS YOUTHS

PROPOSAL AT AUCKLAND

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 1. Proposals for the establishment of a trades school in Auckland for tne purpose of training for entry into useful occupations youths who, through tiie depressed state of industry in the past few years, have failed to hud openings for their services were discussed at- a preliminary confcicncc arranged by Mr W. Slaughter, officer in charge of unemployment in tbe Auckland district, who presided. There were present Mr W. Bromley, deputychairman of the Uneuq loyment Board; representatives of the boot in *-is try; Sir Joseph Smith, chairman of the Boys’ Employment Committee; and Mr J. Findlay, secretary of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association. Mr Slaughter referred to tbe great number of boys and girls who had left and were leaving school but weie denied an opportunity of starting in some occupation that would become their life’s work. This was a great untapped source for some of the finest material in the world, and there was now an opportunity for industry to do something to provide for the' future absorption of these young people. He selected the boot industry as the first to have the proposal submitted to it because be knew this trade was suffering from a dearth of young people with technical training. This also ap-j plied to many other trades, and he hoped the meeting would be the beginning of a campaign which would lead to the provision of skilled work- 1 ers for all industries. His suggestion was that trade schools should he sc.t j up to train suitable boys and girls. ] Manufacturers would be expected to do their part He understood that ns-1 sistance could be obtained from the I Education. Department, and lie was authorised to say that the Unemploy-j ment Board would give favourable con-1 sideration to an application for assistance for a suitable scheme. It was for the manufacturers to say whether they considered they would benefit from being able to employ a bettertrained class of worker.

Mr H. Dearsley said he would hail with delight some such scheme, for it was most important that industry should have a new type of worker, for the o’d order was passing away. He thought the manufacturers would support the scheme, for they were as desirous as anyone of seeing ooys and girls usefully employed. Mr Slaughter said that if those present could formulate a scheme and

submit it to the Unemployment Board with the idea of providing employment lie was sure the board would help. At Mr Slaughter’s suggestion, it was decided to give manufacturers an opportunity to think the proposal over and discuss it among themselves, after which a further conference would be called.