LEARNING A TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 14

LEARNING A TRADE.

RESTRICTIONS ON BOYS.

THE APPRENTICESHIP LAW.

Restrictions. placed upon boys entering trades through the limitation by-law of apprentices wero criticised by Mr. J. A. C. Allum at . a mepting of-the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Council yesterday. Tho question was raised when a remit from tho chamber to the Associated Chambers of Commorce conference was being reviewod. This deplored the tendency for youths' id6as 'to v be directed toward the professions, and expressed approval of the movement mad© td direct the thoughts of boys to farming pursuits.

V It' sec-ins 'to me that-in a'freo country 'like this'every;boy should have'the right to learn any trade he selects, providing ithere is no attempt to exploit boy labour 'to ,J the ddtHhienfc of .'journeymen," said 'Mh 1 Allu'm;' " A Boy should have the right and : , opportunity; to learn what is ineccssary for any trade or profession ho likes. Tho present tendency js,toward the. professions, and this is. assisted by the 'fact''that it is ' being .made more and •moro difficult for : libys to learn a trade. The , chamber should consider that a boy has that-,right.'! Vj;.--];, ~ • ftlr. W V A, Boucher , said .there were ample opportunities at'. secondary schools, 'and especially' technical schools, for boys to • learn trades.

, <. " TbW cannot obtain tho . training in i scjioqls," Mr; Allum ; serve. an apprenticeship before, he, is qualified to enter' a trade. The' trouble all 4 arises: throiigh -the\increasing difficulty experienced by, boys? wanting to leara> a trade.for which tliey can, only qualify bybecoming apprentices. . Parents have come to .me, but -it "is: impossible to help Hhem Unrle? existing .conditions." > , ~. : ; The chairman, Mr.'TV 11. Merritt:.Has not « move been mado to alter the exist.ing ; Apprenticeship Act ?;; ; Mri jAlluro': The matter has been. disV 'cussed, hut nothing has boon done to. my .knowledge.: • >' The 'Chairman^- The-secretary, inforini me, that the, (ipprenticciship.conference met some .timo ago and/it,did not favour the suggestion thnt an (amendment should bo made to tho Act,to provide further opportunities for apprentice?.. " In othor words the boy is denied the right in a freo country of entering any trade, he may select,"-Mr, Allum said. " The difficulty lies with the district quota," said Mr. Q. M. Bowden. "If that, quota is filled .a tradesman cannot take another approntico even although his own quota may not bo filled." "It is wrong," observed Mr. Allum.