APPRENTICES ACT

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20184, 3 May 1937, Page 6

APPRENTICES ACT

The question of overhauling the Apprentices Act is being considered and if the Minister of Labour undertakes the task next session it should serve a most useful purpose. There appears to be some confusion regarding the position to-day, but one thing clear is that the number of apprentices has fallen to dangerously low levels. According to Mr H. E. Moston, assistant secretary of the Labour Department, there were 10,500 apprentices in New Zealand in 1923, with an additional 2000 coming forward each year to take the place of those who had finished their period of training. To-day the number of lads apprenticed is about 3000, and many of them are now in their last year. The position, he added, was such "that unless there was an increase very soon the situation two years hence would be acute. The acting-Minister of Labour has reported an improvement but the number of new apprentices last year, 1291, was still below what the departmental authorities regard as the minimum required annually. ✓ The critics contend that the legislation passed last session has aggravated the position, and there has been a general impression that if an apprentice attained the age of 21 before his training was completed he automatically became entitled to the basic wage. That is, not so, but the approval of the Minister is necessary in cases where contracts bind apprentices of more than 18 years of age, and it is said that more than 100 such apprenticeships have been approved already. The idea is to keep the door open to those who, during the years of depression, had little if any prospect of securing an apprenticeship, and the intention is admirable. The limited number of new apprentices is somewhat surprising. At the close of last 3 r ear, and indeed before the school term ended, it was reported that many children were being withdrawn from school in order to secure positions. It was said that employers preferred to engage a lad of 16 years because he would be a capable worker by the time he became of age and entitled to the basic wage. Apparently no large proportion of the lads who left school became apprentices, and it would be interesting to know what avenues of employment they found. The chief thing to be borne in mind is the welfare of the young people, and any plan designed to assist them to find a useful place in the industrial and commercial life of the Dominion would be generally supported. _____