ENGAGEMENT OF APPRENTICES

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 8

ENGAGEMENT OF APPRENTICES

BIG INCREASE IN 12 MONTHS EMPLOYERS’ RELUCTANCE BEING OVERCOME (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 16. “I am pleased tc be able to say that the reluctance on the part of employers to engage apprentices, which was evident from 1931 onwards, is now being overcome to a great extent,” said. the acting Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb), in an interview today. During the year ended March 31 last there were 2328 contracts of apprenticeship registered, compared with 1292 for the previous year. The number of apprentices employed in the skilled trades at the end of

April was 5231, an increase of 1679 within 12 months. “A more recent return indicates a still further improvement,” he remarked. “For the four and a-half months beginning April 1 iast 1618 contracts have been registered or are being dealt with by the department, while under the Government’s special legislation (passed last year) an additional 269 special contracts for youths over 18 years of age have either been registered or are being dealt with, covering the same period.” Mr Webb said, however, that there was still a considerable shortage of apprentices in most skilled trades—particularly the building trades. There also had been a marked increase in the .employment of girls and boys under 16 years of age in factories, the increases for the 1936-37 period over that of last year being: Girls 608, boys 864.

After referring to the increase in the number of factories and also in the number of workers employed therein, Mr Webb stated that no accurate record of the number of shops and shop assistants was available, but from the information obtainable the figures disclosed an increase of 955 shops and 7134 assistants. The Minister went on to comment on the increased number of organizations of employers and workers that applied for registration during the year.