ELECTRICAL TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 10

ELECTRICAL TRADE

TRAINING OF APPRENTICES UNION’S APPEAL DISMISSED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. September .'t. The Arbitration Court to-day hoard an appeal by the Electrical Tl’udo Workers’ Unipn against the decision of tho Wellington Electrical Trades Apprenticeship Committee allowing tho City Council to take on four additional apprentices. The ground of objection was that the training was not adequate. It was urged that if the apprentices were taken on the council should provide further facilities for enabling them to become fully-qualified journeymen. It was felt by the union that the number of failures showed that there must be something wrong with the training. .... During the discussion it was stated that the percentage of passes in practical work in the Dominion was high, but many failed on the theory side, and the employers should not be blamed for theory failures. Parents must take a share of the blame. Attendance at picture shows, cte., it was stated, possibly had much to do with it.

His Honor said the onus of proof that the committee’s decision was wrong rested on the appellant. There had been no proof that the apprentices of the City Council Electrical Department were not given similar training to that given by outside employers. Although the percentage of passes was low, the council had a higher percentage than the Dominion average. The low percentage might be due to a number of causes. The appeal was dismissed.