APPRENTICES' WELFARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 12

APPRENTICES' WELFARE.

ALLEGATION OF ABUSES. WORKING OF COMMITTEES. Abuses of the Apprentices' Act wero alleged by Mr. A. 11. Dixon, a trades union advocate, in the Arbitration Court yesterday morning. Mr. Dixon quoted the case of a city firm which, although not bankrupt or going into liquidation, had closed its cabinet-making business, apparently with the object of freeing itself of apprentices. The .Act provided for the continuance of the education of apprentices through their transfer, in cases where a company went bankrupt or into liquidation, but. Mr. Dixon suggested that in cases such as that quoted thcro was an intention to strain this provision to extend it to cases not covered by the legislation. In the past apprentices' committees had largely assisted employers to placo apprentices in cases of closing, but it appeared to-day that this machinery was being called upon unduly, and action must be taken to prevent it becoming too general.

Mr. Justice Frazer said the provisions under the Act for the closing of firms duo to bankruptcy or liquidation were not intended to apply to firms which closed any particular section of their activities for domestic reasons. He hoped that where firms altered their basis of business they would endeavour to fit theii apprentices in somewhere else to ensuie that they should learn their trade. "Wo would like you to uso a_ little common sense in these matters, His Honor at a later juncture told Mr. S. E. Wright, secretary of Employers' Association, when Air. Wright asked whether it would bo possible for a Labour Department officer to investigate facilities for apprentices where there was difficulty about apprenticeship committee members inspecting factories for the purpose. His Honor said that in the case under review it was evident that the union representatives on tho apprenticeship committee had been willing to do their part in the matter of an inspection of a factory, but tho employers' representatives had caused an undue delay. He hoped that in future committees would do their best to make prompt inspections as required. Where there was any difficulty about one side or tho other securing tho servico of an inspecting representative an umpire mutually agreed upon could easily fill the breach.