Apprenticeship Overhaul

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1944, Page 5

Apprenticeship Overhaul

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The building industry in New Zealand as generally known was in a very serious position as far a.l trained personnel was concerned. said the president of the Hutt Master Builders’ Association (Mr. W. E. Jones) giving evidence before an apprenticeship commission today.

The establishment of trade trainingschools was an expedient onty, and could not take the place of a planned policy of apprenticeship training. It was desirable that in the pre-voca-tional years teachers should endeavour to impart to students a proper appreciation of the dignity and value of craft occupation. His association was of the opinion that the wages scale as existing at the present time for apprentices, should be replaced by rates designed to give apprentices a measure of remuneration comparable with those ruling in other skilled trades and that they should be in proper relationship to rates paid in unskilled occupations. The scale should be designed so that those boys who approach the end cf an apprenticeship period should be securing a rate of wages not greatly in disparity with the wages they receive when engaged as journey men.

It was also desirable to retain tho present five-year training period to ensure proper and efficient development of skilled journeymen.