STATUS OF ARTISANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17254, 2 September 1919, Page 9

STATUS OF ARTISANS.

POOR REMUNERATION.

EFFECT ON APPRENTICES.

IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY.

The necessity for making apprenticeships more attractive, and materially im- I proving the status and emoluments of artisans, is urged by the Parliamentary Industries Committee in its report to j Parliament. line committee finds that the status and remuneration of the' artisan is at present little, and in some cafes not, higher than that of the I unskilled labourer, and that until this anomaly is removed we cannot expect our Youths to undergo a period of training as apprentices until improvement* are made. The committee reports that, the method of apprenticeship now in force in Pennsylvania, United States, known as the " cooperative industrial course," is worthy of serious con side/ The couree extends over a period of four years. The first, vear when the boy is between 14 and 15 years of age--is spent entirely in th'J Trade or Continuation School, and during that time he speoiaHsea in those subject-,! which will best fit him for the trade ho bis decided to take up, or, where he haa not already done bo, is encouraged to come to a decision, and then receives that tuition which will assist in equipping him for his career. For the next three years the lad divides his time between the school and the workshops. All the boys are - paired" in each trade, so that while one if in ichooi the other is in the shop_ or factory, and vice versa. . This plan has proved successful in Pennsylvania. It is recognised that the limited capacity of the technical schools does not at prefe„t permit of the Pennsylvania scheme being adopted forthwith, but legie ation on the lines of that scheme should be enacted without delay, and the schools ftrengtbened as speedi-y a* possible, io enable thi« much sounder and more beneficial svatem to be brought into vogue. No 'apprentice should be. regarded a* f.illv queried until he has proved by examination that he has acquired a *au knowledge oi the science and technique ol his trad*, in addition to having acquired the usual standard of practical knowledge and /kill. At present there is a marked shortage of apprentices throughout the Dominion, and with the industrial development that we can reaeonaby expect there will be great demand for skilled artisans.