H.—ll.

Section 6 (2): The Act confers a right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration upon any party affected by the decision of a committee. There have been only eight such appeals. Of the two cases which occurred during the past year the following particulars are given— Registration of an apprentice with an electrical contractor was refused at the instance of a committee on the following grounds : that (1) no journeyman was employed, (2) workshop equipment was inadequate, and (3) employer was unable to devote sufficient time to the training of the apprentice. Decision of committee upheld. A furnishing-trade committee recommended a refusal of registration on the grounds that (1) the employer had an unsatisfactory past record in the training of apprentices, (2) the facilities for training were inadequate, and (3) the firm was not sufficiently established to guarantee employment for the full term. Decision of committee upheld. Section 8 requires that every apprenticeship to which the Act applies shall, if in order, be registered by the District Registrar of Apprentices. From returns obtained from employers of apprentices under the Act it is ascertained that at the Ist April, 1924 (when the Act came into force), there were 6,901 apprentices employed to 22,086 journeymen, an average of one apprentice to 3-2 journeymen. The numbers recorded have steadily increased until on the lsff April, 1928, there were 10,227 apprentices to 29,943 journeymen, showing an increase in the average to one apprentice to 2-9 journeymen. The increase in the number of apprentices (as well as of journeymen) is in part due to the fact that the apprenticeship orders issued by the Court from time to time have covered a wider field; nevertheless, the proportion of apprenticese»to journeymen, is now, as above shown, considerably greater than in 1924. After allowing fo* the proportionate increase on account of the larger number of journeymen on record there are 871 more apprentices than in 1924, which represents an increase of 12'6 per cent. Some of this increase is, however, doubtless due to the fact that during the trade depression employers have been compelled to reduce their staffs of journeymen, while obliged to retain their apprentices. In the plumbing, electrical working, and furniture trades the full number permitted by the orders of the Court of Arbitration has been engaged in most centres. The notable increases are in the baking and pastrycooking, bricklaying, carpentering and joinery, furniture, painting, plumbing, and plastering trades. Details are shown in the following return : —•

Return showing the Number of Apprentices and Journeymen employed in the Skilled Trades to which the Apprentices Act applies, together with the Maximum Proportion of Apprentices to Journeymen fixed thereunder (April, 1928).

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Number of Journeymen and Nurnhpr of Trade. Worh £* 5 Apprentices Maximum Proportion.* Apprentices are j em Ployed. allowable. j Baking and pastry-cooking .. 1,515 364 ' Bread, 1 apprentice whether any journeymen or not; if more than 2, 2 apprentices. Pastry, 1 to 1 or 0, 2 to 2 or 4, 3 to 5. Boatbuilding .. .. .. 185 52 1 to 3 or fraction. Boilermaking .. .. .. 247 76 1 to 2 or fraction. Bootmaking .. .. .. 866 221 1 to 3 or fraction in each branch. Boot-repairing .. .. .. 588 72 1 to 3 or fraction in each branch. Blacksmithing and farriery .. 499 91 1 to each fire. Bricklaying .. .. .. 399 127 1 to 3 or fraction of first 3. Carpentering and joinery .. .. 6,116 1,757 1 to 2. Chemistry .. .. .. 548 161 1 to each establishment and 1 extra to every 2 assistants. Clothing trades .. .. .. 222 26 Pressing, 1 to 3 or fraction of first 3 ; other branches, 1 to 2 or fraction of first 2. Coachbuilding .. .. .. 1,052 370 I to 2 or fraction in branch. Coopering .. .. .. 69 11 1 to first 3 or fraction; 2 to first 5 and 1 to every additional 3. Cycle-working .. .. .. 235 97 1 to 1, and 1 extra to each establishment. Electrical working .. .. 1,382 950 4 to 6. Engineering .. .. .. 1,751 902 2 to 1. Engineering (motor) .. .. 2,071 1,122 1 to 1. Furniture .. .. . . 1,746 747 1 to 2 or fraction of first 2 in each branch. Gardening .. .. .. 204 26 1 to 3. Hairdressing .. .. .. 952 210 1 to 2. Hatmaking (felt) .. .. 23 9 1 to each establishment, and 1 to 2 or fraction in addition. Jewellery and watchmaking .. 347 75 1 to 3 or fraction. Leadlight and glass working .. 121 52 1 to 2 or fraction of first 2 in each branch. Masonry (stone and monumental) .. 261 54 1 to 2. Moulding .. .. .. 391 122 1 to 2 or fraction. Painting .. .. .. 2,019 481 1 to 3 or fraction. Plumbing and gasfitting .. .. 1,558 741 1 to each firm or employer if member or employer working, and 1 to 2 or fraction in addition. Plastering .. .. .. 703 227 1 to 2 or fraction. Printing (all branches) .. .. 2,017 723 1 to 3 or fraction. Saddlery .. .. .. 318 49 Bagmaking, 1 to 1 ; other branches, 1 to 2. Sail, tent, and cover making .. 29 3 None fixed. Tailoring .. .. .. 916 77 1 to 3 or fraction of first 3. Tinsmithing .. .. .. 460 175 1 to 2 or fraction. Wicker-working .. .. .. 133 57 1 to each of first 2, and 1 to each subsequent 3. 29,943 10,227 * The proportions stated are those in force in Wellington, except that where a Wellington proportion is not fixed the proportion in one of the other chief centres has been inserted. Special provisions (such as an additional apprentice being allowed whon an apprentice already employed has completed his third or fourth year, &c.), have been disregarded.