CARPENTERS’ APPRENTICES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1932, Page 2

CARPENTERS’ APPRENTICES

FAILURE TO ATTEND CLASSES.

THREE YOUNG MEN FINED. Penalties of 10s each were imposed yesterday on C. O’Dowda, D. H. Street and L. R. Lander, who had been prosecuted by the Labour Department six months ago for failing as apprentices to attend carpentering classes at tho New Plymouth .Techool School. The proceedings had been adjourned in the interim to see whether the young men had complied with requirements as apprentices. C. Brown was another apprentice against whom proceedings were instituted, L t as the report from the school was that he had since attended regularly and made good progress, ho was hot fined. Regarding the others, Mr. C. P. Smith, Labour Department, said the report of the college instructor was to the effect that Lander and Street had progressed while they attended, but their progress had been nullified by the irregularity of their attendance. O’Dowda had not attended, but he had in the meantime completed his term of apprenticeship. Tho magistrate, Mr. R. W. Tate, observed that tho only youth who appeared to take advantage of the leniency extended by the Court was Brown. Counsel suggested Brown should not be penalised. He had taken his lesson to heart.

The magistrate: I agree. . , Referring to the others, counsel pointed out that O’Dowda had since completed his apprenticeship so that there was now bo obligation upon him to attend, classes, Any penalty on him, therefore; would be purely vindictive. Street lived, at Smart Road with his widowed mother, over three miles from the college, and a mile from the tram terminus, and he had stated, the only times he had missed classes was when he had got very wet going home from -work and did not tlnnk he.was called upon to g° out again at night and get wet again. Lander had been away in the country working, and counsel asked that, as he had not been able to see him as to his reasons, his case should be further adjourned. In reply to the magistrate Mr. Smith explained that provided the required attendances were made the employers, refunded the class fees to the apprentices. Mr. Tate: So the State provides the instruction and the employers pay the fees.