“GOOD MORNING MR. CHIPS!”

Cue (NZERS), Issue 14, 31 December 1944, Page 27

“GOOD MORNING MR. CHIPS!”

/CARPENTRY and JOINERY are dealt with in this, the first of a series of articles on trades and professions in New Zealand. * This fortnightly feature will provide readers of CUE with accurate, up-to-date information on various trades and professions, and will give some idea of the qualifications and study required to achieve success in a chosen career. * * * BEFORE 1939 New Zealand was seriously short of houses. In the past five years timber in vast quantities has been swallowed up by camps and other defence buildings. % Much building material has been supplied to our Allies in the Pacific. As a result civilian construction has inevitably been crippled.

This position has been accentuated by The enlistment of thousands of skilled tradesmen into the army. But meanwhile old houses have grown older. New houses have gone up, but not nearly enough of them. It is calculated that the country’s immediate requirements are 60,000 new houses, not to mention the new factories and public

buildings, both to replace obsolescent ones and to provide for post-war expansion. Much* reconstruction of existing buildings, also awaits the release of the necessary materials and men.

All this work calls for carpenters and joiners. It calls also for many types of skilled workers in allied trades. It is estimated that for every 1000 carpenters trained it will be necessary to train 133 joiners, 120 plumbers, 44 electricians, 70 roof-tilers, 260 painters and paperhangers, 24 solid plasters, 22 drainlayers a nd from 20 to 70 bricklayers, depending on the development in use of brick in construction. These trades will be dealt with in later articles.

It is clear from these facts that ths carpentry trade offers opportunities. It is clear also that carpenters will be required in larger numbers than private enterprise can train. In consequence State Trade Training Centres have been set up in seven towns: —Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Napier, Petone, Christchurch and Dunedin. Their establishment in six other centres is contemplated.

Each Centre is staffed by qualified instructors and the ex-serviceman who wishes to take up this trade will be enrolled at the ‘ nearest convenient Centre. The course is one year in length. During this year the trainee spends eighteen weeks in study and in doing "exercises" in the school and in the field. This time is not unproductive as the « exercises take the form of production of fittings for and parts of state houses. The study period includes estimation, trade'calculations, necessary mathematics, building theory, the reading of plans and an introduction to elementary quantity surveying.

It is an invaluable supplement to the practical work, and the advantage of the scheme is that the instruction is given in working hours and does not have to be gained at night classes after a full day’s work. This is important for the ex-service-

man who is sure to be rather rusty after some years away from study. This scheme is already

in extensive operation as, at 31st March last, state houses were being built by the centres at the rate of 150 a year, and 500 men a year are now / being trained. >

Wages during the training year are L 5.5.0 weekly for the first eight months and L 5.7.6 weekly for the last four. After the year is up, the trainee is placed with a selected employer on approved carpentry work at full award;

wages. He has not, of course, become a fully qualified carpenter in that short time. It will take another two years before he can class himself as a qualified journeyman, and during this additional two years attendance at a technical school is necessary for a man who wishes to qualify for the more responsible position, or to strike out in business on his own.

It should be added that this training costs. the State more than the value it directly receives, and in return the trainee is asked to undertake to remain in the trade for a period, including training, of at least five years.

The type of "'training outlined above is ■very suitable for single men, who can . easily move to lodgings near a training centre, or for married men who live where such a centre is located. Many intending . carpenters, however, have homes established in towns where there is as yet no centre, and cannot i easily move. They are provided for by a three-year? period of apprenticeship witha selected private

employer. This is a reduction of two years in the normal term, specially arranged for ex-

servicemen. • Wages are subsidised and are L 5.5.0 for the first six ( months, L 5.7.6 for the second six months and full award wages thereafter. The trainee will require to attend the local Technical School to obtain the theoretic instruction. At the end of his three-year term he is classed as a qualified journeyman. The position of the soldier who was already serving his apprenticeship in carpentry when he joined the Army is also protected. He may revive his contract of apprenticeship within six months after release from the Forces,, either- for the unexpired term or for three, years, whichever is \the shorter.

He will receive full award wages dur? ing the whole of this revived term if over 2i or if the original contract would have expired but for service in the Forces. Apart from the shortening (if any) of tne term and the increase in wage'the conditions of the apprenticesnip contract, are not altered. ■

There is one further point. A car penter requires tools. Tire ex-service' -man selected for training will be grant ed a loan of Lyo free of interest to buy them. Repayment is by mutual agreement All these methods of training are T some extent short-cuts to qualification They are justified partly by improved methods of training and partly by the fact that adult trainees will be more intensively employed

on carpentry proper during the shorter term. But the man

who takes on this trade and wishes to

do well in it must be ready to do ,his part. Carpentry, especially outside construction -work, requires an active and energetic type of man,. physically in good condition, and at the same time one who is prepared to study hard the' theoretical side. It requires a man . "good with hi» hands,” as particularly in joinery careless work cannot be concealed from one’s employer, who will know from long experience exactly what' to look for. f •

For the 'man who enjoys creating •something, the man .who feels a pride in the work of his hands and who does not regard his .work merely as a-method of earning enough to live on, it is a good and satisfying trade. But the man who is not prepared to put his heart into learning by brain and hand would do well to hesitate.

Carpentry is one of the oldest trades in the world. It has long traditions, and pride of workmanship, which is ah outstanding characteristic of the expert carpenter, also means a critical approach to the work‘of juniors.' The trainee

can "'acquire that same pride. ,His employer, or foreman, will soon guage his quality and if he is good

.he will find himself being paid the supreme compliment of being given the trickiest and more difficult, but also the more satisfying work. What, is more while prospects at present look good for all carpenters for the real craftsman they are always good.