TRADES FOR SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16948, 6 September 1918, Page 6

TRADES FOR SOLDIERS.

TRAINING DISABLED. MEN.

OPERATION OF THE SCHEME.

Some misconception? exists in regard to the Government's scheme for assisting disabled or partially disabled soldiers to learn new trades. It has been asserted by. critics that the system opens the way for the exploitation of the soldier by the employer and is a menace to trades unionism. Exhaustive inquiries into the working of tlie scheme go to show that neither of these results is possible. The interests of the soldier are safeguarded, and no harm can como to unionism. Several employers, though not all, state that at the outset they have actually lost money through entering into agreements to teHi men trades. Others, however, are satisfied with the results of their experiment, and they have themselves raised the wage paid when they consider that the man's value had increased.

The Order-in-Council which brought the scheme into operation was gazetted in December of last year. When a discharged man finds an opening to learn a trade his first step is to make application for training and employment 'to the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department. The Minister makes inquiries, and if the investigation proves satisfactory he transmits the application to the inspector of factories in the district, who is > empowered to issue a temporary permit for a period not exceeding one month, provided he is satisfied that the. wage offered is fair. This permit may be extended for a further month in such cases as when the man is not sure he will be able to proceed with the training.

Evidence as to Value.

When the permit expires an opportunity ' is given to representatives of the Re- [ turned Soldiers' Association, the Dis- ' charged Soldiers'- Employment Bureau, * and the trades' union concerned to make representations to th« inspector of awards ! regarding the wages to be paid. The in- j j spector then, fixes the wages to be paid for periods not exceeding three months. An agreement is signed by the employer , and tli6 worker, the former undertaking , to teach the soldier sis far as possible the , trade or branch of the trade within 12 months, and the latter undertaking to do all in his power to learn the trade in this time. There is a prevision for the extension of this time in certain cases. The worker also agrees to attend classes at technical schools, if necessary. In regard to wages, the difference between the amount paid and tha minimum award rate 'in the trade—up to £3is paid by the Government. Half the Government tubI ' sidy is paid to the worker monthly, and . the balance at the end of the training [ ■ period. These training courses are open ,; only to ram who have not bad previous ,: experience in the trade. it is impossible to have one fixed rate [ of wages for men learning trades in this , way on account of tho differences in vari- ,: ous occupations and 'the size of factories. J j The weekly wages paid to men who are I taking this training in Auckland may be ) gauged from the following figures: Boot- , making, £1 10s during the first month and , £2 during the next three months, others , in the same trade £3 and £2 5a respec- ( • lively; jewellery trade, £2 first month ; ' wicker working, £2 first month-; electrical ! engineering, £1 aud £1 15s first month; hairdressiug, £1 first month; motor ; j mechanics, £1 TOs first month, rising in j four months to £2 5s and £2 15s. 1 Only Forty Men Placed.

It has been stated tkat in these trades the term of the ordinary apprenticeship varies from five to six years and that the apprentices' wages for the first year range from 10s to 15s. A higher rate is required for disabled soldiers becauce their work is generally more valuable than that of indentured boys and because their progress will be faster. The wage to be paid for each term of three months is fixed, not by the employer, but by the inspector of labour who makes inquiries in the factory as to the man's progress. So far only 40 men have been placed with firms : n Auckland under this scheme, but 12 more applications are being dealt with at present. While this small number is considered disappointing, the experience of the firms and men who have entered into agreements is noae the less valuable. No complaints have been made br the men that they are not receiving sufficient instruction, and tho employing firms appear to be quite satisfied. "Our man is doing his very best to learn." said tho head' of one motor firm. Another employer, an electrical engineer, said that although he had had one or two failures the soldiers '.e was employing were "doing splendidly." A boot manufacturer said he was very gratified with his experience. The men he was employing wero "putting their brains" into their work, and although their work might not result in profit they would become good tradesmen. He was glad to give such men a chance. Another boot manufacturer spoke in a similar strain. Men Waiting for Openings.

Mr. E. F. Andrews, secretary to tha Returned Soldiers' Association, 'said the weakness of the scheme was that men could not take the training course until they or their friends found firms willing to employ them. Ho had 50 men who were anxiou/ to learn trades, preferably mechanics of some kind, if employers would engage them under the system. Some firms, he said, objected to the supervision by the Labour Department over the soldier, and others would not agree to the rate of wages being reviewed every three month*. One firm had asked that the wage should be 25s for the first year, but this, of course, could not be countenanced, as it would mean that the country would he finding cheap labour The attitude of some firms was that while they would gladly employ returned soldiers who knew something of the trade or pari of it, they could not spare tho time to teach men who knew nothing about it. "