H.—ll

10

example, where the committee may not be properly representative (no occasion has yet arisen for the exercise of the Court's power in this respect). The accompanying table shows the industries in which committees have been set up.

As above stated, the Act permits of the committees being formed, in the respective industries, in any particular localities, and accordingly all of the committees have been set up for either specified towns or for districts. Sixty-four such committees have been formed, covering twenty-two industries. In only nine of the committees have separate chairmen been appointed (such as architects, or officers of the Department), the committees apparently preferring to ask one of their own members to act; in several instances an employers' representative and a workers' representative act alternately. In eight of the committees the chairmen have been given deciding votes. There are only a few industries in which apprenticeships have hitherto been provided for and in which no Apprenticeship Committees have been formed or orders of the Court made ; for example, chemists' assistants (whose training is specially provided for by the Pharmacy Act), coopers, cycleworkers, gardeners, horse-shoers, boat-builders, wicker-workers, glass-workers, beamsmen, and curriers. Second, the Court is required to make general orders fixing the wages, hours, and other conditions of employment of apprentices, also the periods of apprenticeship, the minimum (not the maximum) age at which an apprenticeship may commence, and the proportion of apprentices to journeymen. Orders have accordingly been made in the industries shown in the above table ; nearly every item in the orders was agreed on by the parties. Wages : Under many of these orders the wages of apprentices have been considerably increased compared with those in existence in the former awards and industrial agreements under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Three Wellington examples are — Award. Apprenticeship Order. Baking and pastrycooking .. . . . 26/6 to 64/- 30/- to 80/Painting .. .. .. .. .. 14/6 to 48/6 20,/- to 65/Tailoring .. .. .. .. .. 13/6 to 47/6 15/- to 55/In regard to the periods of apprenticeship it was anticijiated that some decreases might take place in view of the fact that on account of the use of machinery and specialization the various crafts do not call for the same amount of training as formerly; it was also asserted that the lengthy periods of apprenticeships tended to discourage boys from becoming apprentices which necessitates their being

(Note.- In each case, except where indicated, an apprenticeship order of the Court of Arbitration has also been made fixing the general conditions of employment of apprentices.) Industries. Districts where there are Committees. Baking and pastrycooking .. Wellington. Boilermaking .. . . .. Wellington, Wanganui,* Palmerston North,* Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin. Bootmaking .. . . .. Auckland, Wellington Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Bricklaying .. .. . . Auckland, Wanganui, Palmerston North,* North Canterbury. Carpentering and joinery . . . . Auckland, Taranaki,* Gisborne,* Wellington, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North,* Masterton,* Nelson, North Canterbury, South Canterbury. Coachbuilding .. .. . . Wellington. Electrical working . . . . Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, Canterbury. Engineering .. . . . . Wellington, Gisborne,* Wanganui,* Nelson, Palmerston North,* Westland,* Christchurch, Dunedin. Furniture trades.. .. .. Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, Westland,* Canterbury. Jewellery and watchmaking . . Wellington. Leadlight and glass working . . Canterbury.* Letterpress, lithographing, and book- Gisborne.* binding Masonry (stone and monumental) .. Auckland, Wanganui. Motor engineering . . . . Gisborne,* Westland.* Moulding .. . . .. Wellington, Nelson, Wanganui,* Christchurch, Dunedin. Painting . . . . .. Auckland, Gisborne,* Wellington, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North,* Masterton,* Nelson, North Canterbury. Plumbing and gasfitting .. . . Auckland, Hamilton, Whangarei, Gisborne,* Wellington, Palmerston North,* Nelson,* Christchurch, Oamaru.* Plastering .. . . .. Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, Canterbury. Saddlery .. . . . . Auckland. Tailoring .. . . .. Wellington, Wanganui, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Tinsmithing . . .. .. Auckland. Typography . . . . .. Gisborne.* * No order yet made.