APPRENTICESHIP LAWS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20690, 28 December 1938, Page 6

APPRENTICESHIP LAWS

OVERHAUL PLAN INTENTIONS OF MINISTER (Special to Times) AUCKLAND. Wednesday The need for amending and modernising the apprenticeship laws was emphasised by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in a statement yesterday. “I am confident that if the question is approached from a national rather than a parochial point of view,” the Minister said, “the future industrial needs of the Dominion will be met by skilled New Zealand mechanics and tradesmen. The alternative to training our own young people is the importation of tradesmen from overseas. “Personally, I believe that the best tradesmen are those trained in our own country, and I feel confident, too, that if young New Zealanders are given an opportunity they will rise to‘the occasion and demonstrate ability to rank with the best tradesmen in the world. “The responsibility of training rests ■with the Government and the industries concerned. I am hoping to initiate a campaign that may result in the training of thousands of our young folk to enable them to take their rightful place in industry. Bill Discussed "Some consideration has already been given to the question of amending the apprenticeship laws. My predecessor, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who held the portfolio of Labour for three outstanding years in respect of progressive industrial legislation, has discussed with me a Bill dealing with alterations to the. apprenticeship laws. Copies of this draft measure will be sent to the New Zealand Association of Employers and the Federation of Labour for their consideration. “It is my intention,” continued Mr Webb, “eventually to call all the interested parties together, with the idea of going fully into the question of apprenticeship laws in the hope that we may evolve a more practical way of creating greater facilities for our young people to learn various trades. It is abundantly clear that in this advanced age of mechanical power, young New Zealanders should be trained to pse machines to the fullest advantage.”