TT.—7l

14

apprentices and journeymen recorded steadily increased until on the Ist April, 1929, there were 9,943 apprentices, with 31,773 journeymen, but the proportion has remained at Ito 3'2. The proportion had up till a year ago also considerably increased, there being then 1 apprentice to every 2-9 journeymen, which is 871 more than in 1924, but this was doubtless due to the fact that during the trade depression employers had been compelled to reduce their staffs of journeymen, while obliged to retain their apprentices. 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. The notable increases are in the baking and pastry-cooking, 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 Estimated Additional Number of Apprentices that may be employed (April, 1929).

Regarding column 4, the following are given as generally the reasons that a larger number of apprentices are not employed : — (1) In some trades the work is irregular and there is therefore not sufficient continuity of employment—e.y., the building trades. (2) A number of " one-man " establishments exist, many of which have not the facilities to teach apprentices. A number of other shops have no facilities, and applications to employ apprentices have been refused by the Committees. (3) Some jobs are unsuitable for apprentices—e.g., outside work, repairs, and small jobs. (4) The introduction of machinery has the effect of reducing the opportunities for apprentices.

(1) (-') ~ (3) (4) Number of Journeymen -r . i i T , and Working Employers Number of Apprentices Estimated Additional ! for whom Apprentices employed. Number of Apprentices are allowable. that may be employed. Baking and pastry-cooking .. 1,662 j 373 628 Boatbuilding .. .. .. 165 45 32 Boilermaking .. .. . . 321 | 96 80 Bootmaking . . . . . . 904 j 201 206 Boot-repairing .. .. .. 654 1 82 281 Blacksmithing arid farriery . . 550 51 195 Bricklaying . . .. . . 423 j 93 104 Carpentering and joinery .. 6,569 1,620 1,465 Chemistry .. .. .. 579 156 169 Clothing trades .. .. 506 ' 69 171 Coachbuilding (including.motor-body 1,011 320 302 building) Coopering ...... 51 i 5 12 Cycle-working .. . . . . 251 ; 83 82 Electrical working .. .. 1,422 , 767 192 Engineering .. .. .. 1,778 943 1,769 Engineering (motor) .. .. 2,473 1,272 1,153 Furniture trades .. .. 1,869 725 324 Gardening .. .. .. ; 225 20 61 Hairdressing .. .. 947 196 313 Hatmaking (felt) .... 30 5 13 Jewellery and watchmaking . . 361 66 134 Leadlight and glass working . . 161 62 18 Masonry (stone and monumental) . . 264 41 65 Moulding .. .. . , 442 108 140 Painting .. .. .. 2,118 449 538 Plumbing and gasfitting .. .. 1,576 770 283 Plastering .. . . . . 660 213 125 Printing (all branches) .. .. 1,946 787 415 Saddlery and bagmaking. . .. 371 51 187 Sail, tent, and cover making 36 4 3 Tailoring .." .. 902 51 403 Tinsmithing .. . . . . 405 166 94 Wicker-working .. . . 141 53 31 31,773 9,943 ■ 9,988