TRAINING URGED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 8

TRAINING URGED

TIMBER TRADE EMPLOYEES WASTAGE CAUSED BY IGNORANCE P.A. ROTORUA, Apl. 16. The training of employees in the full knowledge of grading and building standards, the properties of different classes of timber and its basic uses, and some understanding of the reasons and necessity for seasoning, was urged by Mr D. G. O’Toole, president of the New Zealand Timber Merchants’ Federation, in a paper, “Utilisation and Marketing,” which he presented to the Forestry Conference in Rotorua. “ The amount of ignorance among our employees for which they are not by any means wholly to blame is pathetic,” he continued. “This question of trade training is of paramount importance to both utilisation and marketing. A surprising amount of avoidable waste could be eliminated if our workers were fully trained. At least part of this training could take place in the industry itself. We could also benefit by having this training supplemented by classes at technical colleges which should cover all the phases mentioned, including the use of machinery. Many boys and young men have a natural aptitude for, and a strong leaning towards, work of this kind and our efforts would not be wasted. One result would be the attracting to our industry of youths of superior mental and manual qualifications. We cannot do without our laboratory technicians, our research workers and other expert theorists, but much of the amazing benefit they confer is lost if the mediums through which the results of their work pass are ignorant or careless.”