TRAINING OF APPRENTICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18785, 19 May 1923, Page 15

TRAINING OF APPRENTICES

DISCUSSED BY EDUCATIONALISTS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 18. The daytime training of apprentices and other young workers, was discussed by the technical education conference this morning. The subject was raised apropos to a proposal contained in the Apprenties’ Bill, both Palmerston North and Wellington Technical Education bodies having urged that the conference should consider the effect of the suggestions in the bill. Mr Partridge, Wellington, moved that this conference considers that the technical training ot' apprentices in our schools should be taken outside working hours. He said that U was proposed in the Bill now being prepared, to place greater restrictions upon employers, making it still more difficult for them to take on apprentices. It was proposed to take boys away from their work for two and a-hall’ days a week. That would detract from their efficiency in the use of tools. Educationalists agreed that a boy could be taught to use tools best In the factory itself. A boy’s outside instruction should be given at night, in ths same way as university students received their education. Mr Andrews (Christchurch) seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Selby (Masterton) said the modsrn tendency was to reduce the hours of labour, and he did not think a boy should be expected to persue his training outside working hours.

"Mr Marshall (Dunedin) maintained that the only way of educating boys was to give them alternative!:practice and theory. Employers were looking at the problem too much from the point of view of how many hours they would lose through the daylight instruction of their appren tices.

Mr Marshall moved an amendment that the technical school authorities do not pretend to teach trades. In fact, they assert it is impossible to do so under present conditions, but is strongly of opinion that provision should be made for day continuation of education in the early years of apprenticeship.

Mr Steele (Dunedin), seconded the amendment.