TRAINING FOR TRADES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 11 September 1937, Page 3

TRAINING FOR TRADES

CONSTRUCTIVK MOVKS Another constructive move to enable youths to acquire skill qualifying them foi permanent employment has been made by the acting-Minister of Labour (comments the “New Zealand Herald"), lie is seeking to meet the difficult case of the 5000 to 0000 youths, now aged between 18 and 25, who missed their chance of entering trades or other steady avocations during the dpression. Mr Webb has already launched a scheme under which the wages of youths employed by farmers arc subsidised. provided the youths are paid standard wages under standard condil.ons and given practical training. At the same time he has operated more actively the provision permitting the making of contracts of adult apprenticeship. Now he is applying this provision along with a wages subsidy to give young men aged 18 and over a chance to learn the carpentering and joinery and bricklaying trades. His reason is the practical one that the country could employ more skilled men in these trades. Certainly it is far better to lit these youths for the building industry than to allow them to waste in idleness, subsisting on sustenance and odd jobs. It is also sound policy to train and engage idle hands in New Zealand instead of allowing them to remain a burden to themselves and the community, while skill is imported from abroad. The native-born should have the first chance. Public opinion will unanimously support Mr Webb in carrying out a sensible plan. It may be hoped he will also receive the willing and active cooperation from employers and trades unions that will be essential to success. At the same time a close study shouid be made of the apprenticeship problem under normal conditions. An increase in contracts has been observed lately but the quota of apprentices is still far below the proportion in earlier years. The causes need examination and the necessary corrections to be applied.