REPLACEMENT OF APPRENTICES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22214, 6 March 1942, Page 6

REPLACEMENT OF APPRENTICES

Sir, —With reference to a recent hearing before the Manpower Committee when Mr W. H. Walton, solicitor, made an attack on the Department of Labour, this matter having reference to the engagement of an apprentice to replace an apprentice who had already gone into Military Camp, I have to advise that the position is covered oy the Suspension of Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations, 1941, Amendment No. 1, which reads that "where, pursuant to the preceding provisions of these regulations, a contract of apprenticeship is suspended and where the engagement of another apprentice in substitution for the apprentice whose contract is suspended would infringe an apprenticeship order in force under the Apprentices Act, 1923, fixing the proportion of apprentices to journeymen, the Industrial Emergency Council set up pursuant to the Industrial Council Regulations, 1938, shall have power in its discretion to authorise the engagement of another apprentice, and any engagement entered into under such authorisation shall be lawful in all respects notwithstanding any provision of the Apprentices Act, 1923, or any Apprenticeship Order enforced thereunder.” I would also like to point out that H an employer considers that he can establish the necessity for immediate replacement of the apprentice who has been called up, then he should make application accordingly to the Industrial Emergency Council in pursuance of the regulations referred to above. The authorisation of the employment of additional apprentices to replace those called up for military service s not one for the officers of the Department of Labour. As will be seen by the above regulations the power to grant approval or otherwise is in the hands of the Industrial Emergency Council.— I am, etc., RUSSELL J. WEIR. District Registrar of Apprentices.