UNION REQUEST LOST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 667, 20 May 1929, Page 14

UNION REQUEST LOST

PLUMBERS’ APRRENTICES IN SAME QUOTA ARBITRATION DECISION An application by the Auckland Plumbers and Gasfitters’ Union to have the proportion of apprentices to journeymen reduced from one to two tb one to three has been refused in the Arbitration Court by his Honour Mr. Justice Frazer. In his judgment, his Honour has found that the proportion of apprentices now prescribed is, if anything, slightly more restricted than it was by the last award in connection with the plumbing trade, in November, 1922, prior to the passing of the Apprentices Act in the following year. There has been unemployment of late but it has affected all trades and, in any event, further restriction on the employment of apprentices would not affect the position for six years. Only 12 new apprentices were indentured in each of the years, 1927 and 1928. This is less than half the number indentured in the average year, so the position is considered to be righting itself. The workers’ representative on the bench, Mr. A. L. Monteith, dissented from the decision, which was made by a majority of the court. His Honour could not see justification for the further restriction of the employment of apprentices of the Auckland district, especially as the proportion is more limited already than in other districts. Mr. Monteith’s dissension was based on the opinion that the trade in Auckland could not absorb the existing number of plumbers. The court had before it a number of young journeymen who could not find employment after finishing their apprenticeship. Considering the increase in workmen and allowing for expansion of trade, Mr. Monteith could not see how the trade could provide reasonable employment within the next 12 years.