LADS IN TRADES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 11

LADS IN TRADES

TOO FEW APPRENTICES HAMPERING RESTRICTIONS SEED OF FUTURE PROBLEMS . CHANGES URGENTLY NEEDED The claim that in most industries there is now a definite shortage of apprentices, and that there will inevitably be a grave shortage of journeymen in many of the skilled trades, is made by employers and others who are in close touch with the situation. They instance the fact that certain industries have already had to advertise for skilled tradesmen in Australia and that carpenters were recently advertised for and obtained in Scotland for work in New Zealand.

Apprenticeship orders by the Arbitration Court regulate the proportion of apprentices to iourneymen that may be employed in the various trades. Some industries are expanding at such a rate that the supply of skilled tradesmen is inadequate, it is stated, with the result that there is a definite check on the engagement of apprentices. But there are many other industries in which nothing like the full quota of. apprentices is emplo3'ed, and three causes substantially apply in producing this state of affairs. Responsibilities Too Great The first cause is a disinclination by a fair number of employers to give the attention necessary to train youths in the particular calling. Another is that some employers are unable to satisfy apprenticeship committees that they possess the facilities to give the necessary all-round training. The third cause, the most important in contributing to the present situation, is that many employers are not prepared to commit themselves to the financial responsibilities for the period of years i that is entailed.

The reluctance of employers to bind themselves for long periods is said to be especially evident in trades not remarkable for long periods of stability. For example, the building trades have shown themselves to be extraordinarily sensitive to economic conditions or to economic apprehensions that may exist generally, and the low proportion of apprentices to journeymen in these trades is said to be altogether inadequate for the needs of the future.Carpentry and Plumbing

Fifty years ago, it was pointed out, a carpenter had to be able to prepare timber from the bulk and make his own joinery. Not only is all joinery work, most of it the product of machinery, now supplied, but timber for other work is delivered in required sizes. The methods being pursued in the Government housing scheme by large contractors were quoted as an instance- of the trend in the industry. Timber; cut to required sizes and shaped by machinery, is delivered at Orakei to carpenters on the job, whose work is made comparatively simple. The opinion was expressed that working conditions in the trade now justify the cutting dowu of the apprenticeship term to three years. At present it is five years for lads apprenticed under 18 years of age, and four years for lads of that age and over. Another view was that no longer was the apprenticeship period of six years justified in the plumbing trade. At one time a high degree of I skill and experience was needed by plumbers, who had to be technicians in lead; to-day, a plumber was largely an assembler. Conditions in Various Trades So far as can be ascertained there was a slight increase last year in the number of new apprentices throughout industry in Auckland, although some trades showed a substantial reduction. In the hairdressing and printing trades, for example, there was about a 50 per cent decrease, and such trades as baking, boot manufacturing and clothing also showed reductions in the number of male apprentices engaged. But, in view of the extent of the trade recovery, the .. actual _ increases in many instances are claimed to be much below ,what could be expected. The building trade began a recovery last year, and 50 per cent more apprentices than in the previous year appear to have been engaged. But it is said that the big drop this year in house building has checked any tendency toward building up the number of apprentices to the pre-depression level. "High Time for Revision" The motor - coach building trade exemplifies the effect of the shortage of tradesmen. It was necessary for several years to import labour in this industry, and the proportion system of apprentices is debarring many lads from obtaining apprenticeships. In the furniture trade also there is a serious shortage of journeymen, and a demand, when it is possible to engage them,' for apprentices. Such fairly stable industries as motor engineering and electrical engineering continue to show slight .yearly increases in apprentices, possibly corresponding with the development of trade. Tinsmithing is also another busy trade in which .apprenticeship has increased, while better times have meantjnuch to the jewellery trade, judged by the additions of apprentices. "The development of machinery has led to much more rapid changes of fortune in the various trades," isaid an employer, "so that it -is natural that employers are chary of long-term apprenticeships, which in time of acute depression often become an almost impossible burden. It is high tirpe there was a revision of apprenticeship legislation." APPRENTICESHIP PROBLEMS GOVERNMENT'S ENDEAVOURS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'} CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday The apprenticeship system and the employment of youths in general are being given close attention by the Government and conferences will be held shortly to discuss the present problems with representatives of various employers' organisations and trade unions, according to a statement by the acting-Minister of Labour, the Hon., P. C. Webb, yesterday. ' 'We are aiming to evolve a practical solution for the problems of youth employment," Mr. Webb said. "The Government is determined to do its utmost for those young people in whose faces the door was slammed during the depression. We desire the co-operation both of workers and employers, and the whole system will be considered with the intention of giving a elianee to thote voung people who missed their opportunity. I am convinced that it is' not beyond the brains of the people of this country to meet every problem that may arise." Mr. Webb said that advantage had been taken in about 120 cases of provision for special apprenticeship contracts with the approval .of the Minister of Labour. He had recently approved of the apprenticeship for two years of a man of 34 years of age. He felt that more use could be made of this provision, but the Government was making sure that it would not be imposed upon. , -