TRADES SCHOOL PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1935, Page 7

TRADES SCHOOL PLAN

YOUNG PEOPLE’S TRAINING ABSORPTION IN INDUSTRIES. MOVE TO ASSIST UNEMPLOYED. BOOT TRADE SELECTED FIRST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Proposals for the establishment of a trades school at Auckland for the Purpose of training for entry into useful occupations youths who through the depressed state of industry in the past few years have failed to find openings for their services were discussed at a preliminary conference airanged by Mr. W. Slaughter, officer in charge of unemployment in the Auckland district, who presided. There wert present Mr. W. Bromley, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, representatives of the boot industry, and Sir Joseph Smith, chairman of the Boys’ Employment Committee. r A , Mr. J. Findlay, secretary of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, referred to the great number of boys and girls who had left. or were leaving school but were denied an opportunity of starting in some occupation that would hecome their life’s work. Thus was a great untapped source of some of the finest material in the world, and there w&s now an opportunity for industry to do something to provide for the future absorption of these young people. He selected the boot industry as the first to have the proposal submitted to it because he knew this trade was suffering from a dearth of young people with technical training. This also applied to many other trades, and he hoped the meeting would be the beginning of a campaign which would lead to the provision of skilled workers for all industries. His suggestion was that trade schools should be set up to train suitable boys and girls. Manufacturers would be expected to do their part. He understood assistance could be obtained from the Education Department, and he was authorised to say that the Unemployment Board would give, favourable consideration to an application for assistance to a suitable schema. It was for the manufacturers to say whether they considered they would benefit from being able to employ a better-trained class of worker. - Mr. H. Dearsly said he would hail with delight some such • scheme,' for it was most important that ’ndustry should have a new type of worker. The old order was passing away. He thought the manufacturers would support the scheme, for they were as desirous as anyone of seeing boys and girls usefully employed. ' Mr. Slaughter said that if those present could formulate a scheme and submit it to the Unemployment Board with the idea of providing employment, he was sure the board would help. At his suggestion it was decided to give the manufacturers an opportunity to think the proposal over and discuss it among themselves, after which a further conference would be called. .