RIPE FOR CHANGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7852, 14 July 1911, Page 5

RIPE FOR CHANGE

APPRENTICESHIP LAW. BITTER COMPLAINTS MADE BY EMPLOYEES. There are some strong comments in the annual report of the Wellington Employers’ Association on the state of the law governing the relations between masters and apprentices. “The provisions of the present laws and awards relating to apprentices,” says the report, “are in such an unsatisfactory state that employers are less inclined than ever to lake upon themselves the heavy responsibilities they are required to assume when accepting the services of an apprentice. The result is that throughout the Dominion the number of young people being trained by employers as mechanics or tradesmen is in no way commensurate with tho natural increase in the demand for trained artisans and tradesmen. The time is ripe for this question being grappled with.” MALINGERING ? The report goes on to point .out that recent decisions of tho courts practically make employers liable to pay wages for timo lost by apprentices through sickness, and thus open tho door for malingering on the part of young people. “This statement is made advisedly,” it says, “as some employers have proof that lads have made the excuse of sickness when desirous of having a day away from work. Then there is an unfortunate tendency on tho part of youths to imagine that once their employer is bound to keep them as apprentices, they are free to carry on as they please, and to devote themselves to their work or not, according to their inclination. Tho extent of the impertinence and disobedience shown by some apprentices owing to this belief would surprise tho general public. The fixing of a minimum wage is to some extent responsible for the want of enthusiasm in and devotion to work noticeable in a largo number of apprentices, as they are under tho impression that they have only to serve at the trade for the usual term of five or six years to entitle them to full journeymen’s wages.” AI/DERATIONS KEQDIEED. In the opinion of the committee tho alterations in tho law and awards most urgently needed are : 1. The right of tho employer to deduct wages for ail time lost by an apprentice through default or sickness. (Vide last year’s. amendment of Factories Act). 2. A. more definite statement of the responsibilities and duties of the apprentice to the employer, and a consequential right to the employer to dismiss the apprentice if he fails to faithfully carry out his duties. 3. Power to be given to the courts to cancel apprenticeship if, through unforeseen circumstances, an employer finds himself unable to continue teaching the apprentice, or fails to find another employer who is willing to take the apprentice.