APPRENTICESHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 14

APPRENTICESHIP.

Sir,—ln Friday's Herald a report appears of a meeting of the Auckland Chamhar of Commerce, wherein the members discussed apprenticeship / matters. Mr Allum deplored the restrictions placed upon boys to learn any trade they liked, provided there was no attempt to exploit the boy labour to the detriment of journeymen. I suppose the burglary profession deplores the restrictions placed upon their activities by the police. And I have no doubt, the profession would bo Willing to give an assurance that poor people would not suffer if those restrictions were lifted. Mr. Allum uses the words "free country," as if such a place were in actual existence where boys can enter any trade he may select. There is a restriction on the employment of apprentices in most trades in every civilised part of the world. How do boys select their trades? An advertisement appears in the press for an apprentice to bo a butcher. . In Auckland at present a hundred boys would apply. Must we suppose all these boys want to bo butchers '! Somcono tells tho unsuccessful applicants that Mr. Allum wants an apprentice. They immediately all want to becomo electricians. Tho samo day an advertisement appears in tho evening paper. for an apprentice to a motor mechanic. Again all our boys want to become motor mechanics. This goes on ad infinitum until the trade selects tho boy. Mr. W. A. Boucher says ample opportunities are provided at secondary and technical schools to learn trades. But technical schools are not meant to teach apprentices their trade. Mr. C. M. Bowden is also at sea. There is no such thing as n district quota. The amendment to tho Apprentices Act, 1927, No. 28, reponled tho section of the Act making provision for a district quota. Tho chairman asked a question if a move had not been mado to alter tho existing Apprentices Act. Mr. Allum said it had been discussed. It was at an apprenticeship conference in May. At that conference Mr. W. H. Winsor, of Christchurch, mado the most astonishing statement over mado in New Zealand on this subject. Mr. Winsor admitted that without restrictions a surplus of journeymen would bo created, but, ho said, that could be got over by tho new journeymen leaving the country. Is this the logical result of tho only proposal which Chamber of Commerce membprs have to make toward a solution of one of the most difficult problems of modern industry \ H. Campbell.

FATE OF FAMOUS HOUSE. • > Sir,—Your issue of , Tuesday last con, tained an interesting account of the .Prim Minister's residence, Wellington. As I had charge of the grounds for 16 yea i* I • woUld like, with your kind permissiott; tA add a few items which may be interest.'-& ing to your many readers. The coach-'H'"-house and stables erected for Sir Julias Vogel are still standing. A never-failingj 1? spring of pure water, rises in the grounds. The water is conveyed into a large under!, '7: ground reservoir, and from it by 4i n . if cast iron pipes the whole length of Hill A^Street to the Government Printing Office and Bellamy's. The grounds contain ft several splendid specimens of ash, beech Moreton Bay fig, Norfolk Island pine arid ■ a kauri, quite 30ft. in height. This was & said to have been planted by Sir George Grey. The late Mr. Massey always made a point of showing it to his numerous visitors, as ho prized it highly. Okere Falls. L. Gwilliam.