KEEPING YOUTH’S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6954, 6 July 1929, Page 8

KEEPING YOUTH’S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE

Restrictions of Old Indenture System

“The gold old days” has become a phrase that is decidedly trite and from the lips of some of our ciders, almost an irritant. NYcre the old days really so good as we of tho present generation arc led to believe, or does distance lend enchantment to tho view? Young 1929 and especially young New Zealand of 1929 would sec little enchantment in some aspects of the view according to a Palmerston North gentleman, who experienced the rigours which the 19th century imposed upon it c youth. NVhat would a modern youth do and say, if before entering upon the serious business of life, he was asked to sign a formidable and monstrous document, binding him over to be his employer’s Man Friday for five years? A document which set out with all the impressive ponderosity of which the Engj;sh language is capable, a solemn prohibition against the apprentice conductinn- a courtship, entering a public house, playing cards, dominoes, or other names of cliance, and attending places of amusement while under indenture. Further that “in consideration thereof” he should receive the princely sum of two shillings a week of 54 hours, , , , It would be safe to say that modern youth in its own idiom, would squeal’’ and as all "would hold, with good cause. I But it was uuder those rigorous conditions that 30 years ago, a boy enterled trade employment and it is from these indenture deeds that our present system of apprenticeship has been evolved. , . “I did not like it at tho time but later I realised the wisdom of that system,” said the gentleman concerned in describing his feelings in the matter. “The old system of indenture was very- irksome but iu my opinion, it was good because it held tho boy at. s fixed employment aud under control during the years when he is most restless. °Thc boy was his master’s Man - Friday but lie learned his trade thoroughly. ” An indentured apprentice could not leave his employment for five years but neither could his master dismiss him without bringing tho case before a magistrate. After passing out of tho apprentice stage, the youth received another five years training, at the end of which time, provided lie had applied himself to his work, he was a qualified tradesman perhaps in a better sense of the word than it is understood to-day.