Trade Training Target

Te Ao Hou, June 1975, Page 33

Trade Training Target From the Minister of Maori Affairs The Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. Matiu Rata, has set a new target of at least 1,000 trainees each year through the trade training schemes of the Maori and Island Affairs Department. This nearly doubles the number at present involved in the existing courses. In the past the plea has been for time for advancement. Now the drive is for expansion in new directions. ‘We need the co-operation and goodwill of all sectors—private, public, State and trade union,’ said Mr Rata. The greatly expanded programme is one of the measures designed to implement the Government's people-oriented policy in Maori Affairs. Mr. Rata has said that the two areas of greatest concern here are people and land. Legislation dealing with land is already under way and an expansion in the existing trade training scheme is a practical way of trackling the problem of giving more people greater opportunities. In an address to trade union representatives and Maori and Pacific Island organizations at Auckland, Mr Rata laid down the targets for the trade training schemes. They are: 1. The distribution of the Maori work force throughout the total occupational levels in the same proportions as the overall New Zealand work force. 2. The raising of the median income of Maori wage earners to that of the non-Maori. 3. The pursuance of policies which will result in making it possible for Maori wage earners to enter the work force later and retire earlier than is now the case. 4. The pursuance of policies which will make it possible for married women not to be forced into the work force because of necessity. 5. The opportunity for Maori workers in unskilled and semi-skilled occupations to be retrained for a higher occupation commensurate with job satisfaction. ‘The area of greatest concern is the 12 to 24 age group,’ said Mr Rata. ‘As far as the young are concerned it is not a happy situation when they are confronted with the real possibility of failure in education.’ Of 6139 Maori school leavers in 1972, 4582–74.6%—left with no qualifications. Nevertheless, without comparing the rate of success with that of other New Zealanders, the Maori pass rates in School Certificate, University Entrance and higher

examinations have shown exceptionally high percentage increases each year and should continue to increase. The actual numbers are still small, however, and rather than wait for time to take its course Mr Rata sees the need for some definite impetus. ‘The continuing rise of dissatisfaction and feelings of frustration so evident among the young are the signs that we are heeding. If we want to arrest these feelings of futility and frustration that have persisted for too long, the opportunities for clear success in different avenues must be created. ‘For this reason the need is obviously to expand their opportunities so as to develop their full potential and to draw out the range of talent which has not been utilised fully.’ In 1972 there were 564 boys and girls involved in 29 courses run by the Department, a sizeable step from the one course for 10 boys when the scheme began in 1959. Now the target is 1,000 trade trainees at least each year, and to achieve this the goodwill and co-operation of all are needed. Mr Rata has made it plain on many occasions that he agrees wholeheartedly with the concept of equal opportunity, a point which is made strongly by trade unions. He has emphasised, however, the need for some special training to achieve equal opportunity. Thus a wider range of trades will be aimed for, including schemes for marine and fish-farming and for agricultural occupations. This will provide a choice for those who may prefer to remain in or go to rural areas. Opportunities in rural towns and such provincial centres as Rotorua will need to be created so that the current trend of sending youths away from their home environment is lessened. Adult retraining opportunities will also be looked into. Mr Rata sums up his views with a quotation from the 1962 Report on the Commission on Education which says: ‘In the Maori people lies the greatest reservoir of unused talent in the population. The benefit that could finally accrue in the field of race relations if the Maori could play the important part in all areas that his numbers warrant needs no emphasising.’ Some of 1974's first year carpentry trainees during their lunch break outside their Sylvia Park training centre in Auckland.