SKILLED LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22596, 8 December 1936, Page 13

SKILLED LABOUR

GENERAL SHORTAGE APPRENTICE DIFFICULTY AN OBSOLETE SYSTEM The opinion that in a great many industries the apprenticeship system is obsolete owing to mass-production methods of manufacture made necessary by overseas competition was voiced by employers yesterday. They considered that the system should be replaced by one under which young people could be trained in particular operations under a weekly engagement, the proportion of juniors to seniors in industry being fixed on a reasonable basis. This opinion was elicited in the course of discussion on the shortage of skilled labour in industry generally, it being pointed out that the present scarcity was not the worst aspect of the trouble. It was likely to develop with the growth of industry because sufficient apprentices owing to hampering restrictions were not being taken on to take their place eventually as journeymen. Unsatisfactory Legislation Views expressed by employers were that the present apprenticeship laws were thoroughly unsatisfactory and for that reason employers generally hesitated about entering into apprenticeship contracts. Proper provision should bo made to enable young people to bo employed in all industries in order that a sufficient supply of trained workers should bo made available.

In many industries the trades union secretaries undoubtedly did much to discourage the employment of young people. Cases dealt with by the Conciliation Council recently provided illustrations on that aspect, workers' representatives objecting to any provision being made to enable youths to be employed. M ention was also made of the coal, lime and sand labourers' award which fixed the terms and conditions of employment iu merchants' yards. In most cases the businesses were well established offering regular employment without broken time.

The work was permanent and a good deal of it was quite suitable for boys, a boy obtaining employment being practically assured of permanent work so long as he behaved himself. In the past when he was L'l he would be carried on at the adult rate, but under the present industrial legislation it had been ruled that a boy engaged must be employed at the adult rate, which was a condition that ruled him out of employment. Effects of 40-Hour Week The clothing trade was experiencing its busy season and its ordinary working hours had been reduced to 40 a week. Many factories were short of workers. If this industry were to continue to manufacture the proportion of clothing it manufactured in the past additional journeymen and women must be trained. "It is all very well to say the 40hour week is designed to make employment for more workers, but how is that result to be attained if there is no extra skilled labour available," remarked one employer. "Before an industry where any degree of skill is required can engage extra workers, provision must be made in the Apprentices Act and in awards to enable more young people to be trained, "It is quite clear that in many industries to-dav sufficient trained workers are not available, and therefore the common-sense view is that simple conditions should be brought into effect to encourage employers to employ trainees in greater numbers than heretofore until the shortage is overcome and the amount of labour can meet the demand." Mass Production Conditions

Several 111011 pointed out that the old | idea of apprenticing a boy to learn a whole trade was obsolete. In order to manufacture successfully it was necessary to organise many industries 011 mass production lines in order to compete with industry overseas. Very few workers in trades now made an article from beginning to end. Where it was once necessary to employ skilled labour, workers under present conditions were relatively unskilled. It should therefore be possible, to employ many young persons therein without apprenticeships. In discussing tbe last-mentioned point in greater detail illustrations were given of classes of machinery and plant being manufactured in Auckland that were more accurate than the old, although unskilled labour had replaced skilled. In the shirt industry about 27 different operations wore required in manufacture in an up-to-date factory. No girl now learned the complete process of shirt-making; in fact, girls did not want to learn the whole process. It was very obvious when the revolution that had taken place in manufacturing methods in recent years was considered that the apprenticeship system at present in vogue was unnecessary and retrogressive, and the sooner the problem was faced and dealt with the better it would be for all concerned.