FUTURE BUILDERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 11

FUTURE BUILDERS

TRAINING YOUTHS HIGH WAGES INVOLVED A SUBSIDY SUGGESTED The position in regard to apprentices to the building trade has been discussed at recent meetings of the Auckland Master Builders' Association, and it appears there is a great deal of diffidence on the part of builders to assume the responsibility of contracts with boys who desire employment in some branch of the building trade. It was stated yesterday that the unpleasant and costly experience of many builders during recent years was remembered, and that now another deterrent effect had arisen by the adoption of an apprenticeship order for carpenters. This had considerably increased the rates of wages to be paid while boys were undergoing their training over the customary period of five years. This order came into operation on September 1, and provides for a commencing wage of £1 2s Gd a week and increases up to £3 7s Gd for the last six months in the case of boys who start under 18 years of age, while those who start over 18 years of ago will receive £1 12s 6d for the first year and £4 2a 6d for the last six months. It was mentioned that the members of the Auckland Master Builders' Association recognised the need for training youths for the carpentering and other trades connected with the building industry, not only in tho interest of tho young people, but for tho purpose of providing against the well recognised shortage of skilled artisans. It had been suggested that tho Government would be acting for the general welfare if it adopted a scheme by which approved builders would be subsidised for the training of apprentices. It was urged that the building industry was of such importance to the Dominion that it was entitled to special consideration and that money dovoted to subsidising the training of youths would be as usefully expended as were public funds given for educational purposes in other directions. In both instances the fitting of youths for their future livelihood was involved. The usual provision that limited the number of apprentices employed would always protect tho tradesmen of tho day. " It has been evident to thoughtful builders for a long time that encouragement in some form must bo given for the engagement of apprentices to the building trade especially," said a member of the trade. " Yet we have the unfortunate fact that developments of recent years have had an entirely opposite effect, and the young people, of course, have been the principal sufferers."