TRADE TRAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25214, 29 May 1945, Page 6

TRADE TRAINING

SCHOOL AT KAIKOHE

OLD METHODS SUPERSEDED (0.C.) KAIKOHE, Monday

"In my opinion _the old methods of trade training have gone," said the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr Skinner, in officially opening the Kaikohe carpentry training centre today. "It used to he said that it took five years to train a carpenter and seven years to train a plumber. We can turn out very good carpenters in a couple of years from our training schools. This has been borne out by the accomplishments of the trainees." The gathering at the opening ceremony was composed chiefly of Maoris and also included representatives of the Mangoiiui, Wlmngaroa and Bay of Islands County Councils and the Kaikohe Town Board. The .Minister was welcomed hv Mr S. W. Smith, M.P., who said the people of the north appreciated the establishment of the school and hoped, if the number of trainees were available, other schools would he established in the area. When the training of soldiers was completed the centres would be available to train Maori boys after leaving school.

Maoris' Expectations Mr Erupou said the Maoris were gratified at the establishment of the school in Kaikohe and looked to the Rehabilitation Department further to assist returned Maoris to settle on farms and learn other trades. Mr Skinner said he knew the north and some of its problems. The shortage of tools had held up the establishment of additional carpentry schools, but there were now sufficient tools in sight. As an instance of what was possible, a Chri.siehureh trainee had .started to build himself a house, which be sold before, it was finished. He had built four more houses and now employed 12 men building a block of flats. This was an exceptional case, but many men were now employed building their own houses.

The Minister pointed out that it was useless training carpenters only and schools for allied trades had been opened in Wellington and another would he opened in Auckland in the near future. Fie hoped to see men from Kaikohe and the north attending the Auckland school.

Equal Opportunity The housing programme was the most important work in New Zealand at the present time. The department was exploring alternative building; materials, such as pre-east concrete, but timber would probably always be New Zealand's major building material. Particularly in the north, where the regeneration of native trees took place so rapidly, the Forestry Department had large areas of land and was acquiring further trees. The Rehabilitation Department wanted to give the same opportunity to .Maori returned men as to pakehas. Land settlement was a most important aspect of rehabilitation in the north, but Maoris would not be settled on Maori land unless they had a clear title. All ex-servicemen, Maori or pakeha. would participate in ballots. Mr Skinner said that there were some 3000 carpentry trainees in New Zealand to date. The Kaikohe school wrtuld train some .'56 men a year and these men would be able to build houses each year if needed. He paid a tribute to the Rehabilitation Committee, officers and instructors, who had no other object hut to make the new school a success.

BANK PURCHASE PLAN

REFERENDUM REQUESTED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday The proposed nationalisation of the Bank of New Zealand was discussed by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce today. It was resolved that the Government be asked to publish and broadcast full details showing how the step would materially benefit all sections of the community.' It was also decided to ask that a referendum of the people he taken to ascertain whether they were in favour of the Government taking over the bank, that the referendum should not take place until the New Zealand Division returned, and that equal facilities be given to the Leader of the Opposition to give his views on the project. OBITUARY MR OSBORNE S. WEST The death has occurred of Mr Osborne S. West, of Tarawera Terrace, St. Heliers, who was for 40 years well known in the service of the Union Bank. Mr West was born in Tasmania 67 years ago, and joined the staff of the Union Bank in Launceston. He was transferred in 1904 to the ('hristchurch branch and later to Dunedin. In 1913 he became manager of the branch at Matata, and subsequently was in charge of the Wairoa branch. Hawke's Bay, where lie spent 14 years. His final appointment was to the management of the branch at Te Awamutu, from which he retired in 1937. For the past eight years he had been living at St. Heliers. Mr West was a keen cricketer in his younger days, and later he devoted himself to tennis as a pastime. He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Elma Waterhonse, of Hohart. t * MR ROLAND LANGTON The " death occurred suddenly of Mr Roland Langton, of Tangowahine, Northern Wairoa, at the age of 64. Mr Langton was one of the oldest residents of that district. About 45 years ago he and his brother, Mr .J, Langton, took up a large block of land which they divided into two farms./and their venture was a great success. The Langton hrothers assisted in forming the original road from Pargaville to Tangowahine, using their teams for this purpose. Keenly interested in politics. Mr Langton was chairman of the Tangowahine branch of the National Party at the time of his death. He was also interested in several branches of sport. He is survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters.