The Thames Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 11, 1923. SKILLED LABOUR.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15813, 11 April 1923, Page 4

The Thames Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 11, 1923. SKILLED LABOUR.

Every manufacturer Hand all those engaged in skilled- trades have experienced difficulty, in getting a sufficient number 'df apprentices s>. keep ; up j;he supply of porkers m most trades for present and future -requirements. Much has been said from time to time at, meetings and through the Press, without appreciable result. . It is usually easier . to realise that a thing is/ wrong than it is, to provide a remedy. Ip view of' the fact that skilled workers can usually obtain employment at remunerative pay and in ma,ny : * cases. without any loss of time, it -vrQuld seem but reasonable to expect that, more than sufficient lads would be induced to become apprentices to some , trade that appeals to -them. There must be some real cause for this condition of affairs, and it is gratifying to learn that the present Minister of Labour (the Hon.-,G. J. Anderson) is about to call k conference of craft representatives to go into the problem in all its phases with a view to evolving a solution whereby the position may be remedied. y New Zealand’s experience is .npt‘' ; singular,> as the dearth of ap-‘ .pfenwesf,is' 1 world-wide, and has; been the subject of a Royal ;-Com-, mission in New South Wales, . while: many .other have officially recognised the need for something being done to make the crafts more attractive- !tfs boys, but without tangible result. Is it 'that-parents are influenced by their children being able to earn more for the time being in other ways than they could secure by being apprenticed to a trade,, or is education in: any way responsible"? We have it on' the authority of the Education Department that* in this Dominion 20 per cent, of those who leave school before passing Standard VI. learn a trade, only 9. per cent, of those who procure “proficiency” certificates become apprenticed. This gops to show that the better educated lads are attracted to some other walk in life, probably to office work where they are not required 'to soil., their;hands and can wear better clothes. Whatever the cause may be the position is a serious one, calculated to in-crease-the cost "of living in the future, as unless a remedy can be. found it is /clear that commodities will be more costly to produce, and the choice will be less. It is amatter - for serious consideration as to whether / the Arbitration has done a wise thing in making; its awards to go the length lit has in limiting the number of apprentices. At the moment the great need is Undoubtedly more learners of most trades,'and there-are many of, the smaller towns where boys could be secured as apprentices were it lawful to do so; this phase of the question is worthy of serious ."and mature consideration. , It -is also a question as -to whether the country is. getting the best practicable results from our technical schools, and whether they , could not be made toa greater extent the vehicle for imparting knowledge to prospective artisans that would enable proficiency to be attained during a shorter term of apprenticeship than is the case under present-day conditions. It is to be hoped the conference will be able to offer a workable solution,' and make practical suggestions that may be embodied in legislation that; the' Minister will no doubt introduce during the coming session.*,of Parliament. The fact of the Minister .convening the conference is evidence bf his desire, to bring about improved conditions, and his action is to be commended.