A TRADE at YOUR FINGERTIPS

Cue (NZERS), Issue 33, 15 October 1945, Page 11

A TRADE at YOUR FINGERTIPS

(There are and always will he a number of people who fill the ranks of "unskilled labour 3 ’. It has its attractions, for the young man can start at what seem to him princely wages. The fact that they will never get any higher and that marriage will soon reduce their splendour does not occur to him. By the time he is married and finds out his mistake it is too late to start a long apprenticeship and his obligations are too heavy to allow it, even if that apprenticeship will mean higher wages, a more interesting job and better prospects. Many unskilled labourers joined the Army. While overseas they have had time to think, to talk things over with tradesmen and perhaps to acquire some skills of their own. Many of them will return determined to acquire a trade. For them the Government has a plan, and it offers the same plan to the younger man who had not had the chance to start learning a job in civil life, and to the man who is dissatisfied with the job he had and feels that this time he is going to pick a better one. This plan is put into action by the Trade Training Scheme. It overcomes, where possible, the two barriers to a man’s acquiring a trade later in life. In the first place it guarantees a living wage, at present starting at L 5. 5 0 a week, though there are indications that this will be raised to L 5 15. 0, with further periodical increases at six

monthly intervals during training. Secondly, it provides a shortened apprenticeship, except in certain trades, such as plumbing, where shortening is not feasible. This shortening is justified partly by the intensified nature of the training, partly by the greater maturity of the trainees. Trade training is carried on in two ways. Wherever the numbers of trainees justify it, Government Trade Training Centres are opened. The trainees are required to attend these ‘unless it is difficult or impossible for them to- do so, and where such attendance involves married men living away from home a separation allowance of 30/- a week is payable. At present Carpentry Training Centres are open in the four main cities and others are being opened at Palmerston North, New (Plymouth, Wanganui and Nelson. Painting, paperhanging and glazing, bricklaying and plastering have up till now been taught only at Pet one but it is expected that this month training centres will open in these subjects in Auckland and Christchurch. Where there are no such centres or where attendance at them is impracticable, ”B” class training, i.e. subsidised training with a selected private employer, is available in many trades. It will be noticed that ”A” class training is so far available only in trades

connected with building. This restriction does not apply to ”B” class training, but there are certain trades, such as motor engineering, radio, electrical trades, fitting and turning in which it is expected that the services will have trained far more tradesmen than will be required for peacetime. Inexperienced men wanting training in these trades cannot expect either help or encouragement. The principle then is clear. The Rehabilitation Dept, is offering training or subsidies to encourage men to acquire skills the country needs and to maintain them until they acquire those skills. As they learn the subsidy is reduced till at the end of the agreed term the employee is entitled to full journeyman’s wages, but these the employer and not the Government must find. As a rule it can be taken that, except in plumbing, the term of training will not exceed three years. Where the trainee requires his own kit of tools, an interest-free loan of up to LSO will be made. The terms of repayment are by arrangement. It will be appreciated that this training costs the taxpayer quite a lot. The Government feels that this is justified because of the advantage the country receives from the additional tradesmen produced. But

some safeguard is necessary against wasting money training men who do not inefjr to stick at the job so* in the

contract of training the student is asked to undertake to remain in the trade for a specified time, not less than three years, excluding the training period. To obtain trade training application should be made through your Rehabilitation Officer soon after you get back to New Zealand. He will put the application before the Committee and if the training is recommended there should be little further difficulty. But remember that once you are qualified you must stand on your own feet, so make the most cf the training. Quite possibly you can make a start now by taking a correspondence course with NZ School of Education. Or there may be a Unit or Formation Class in the subject. If you are interested see your Unit Education Representative and ask him what’s doing. The increase in interest in trade training has been very marked in New Zealand. In Auckland recently the authorities had on hand ninety-five applications for carpentry training, twenty-one for painting, paper-hang-ing and glazing, twelve for bricklaying and ten for plastering. The figures to the end of July are interesting as shewing the very real eagerness for training when it is made financially possible. To that date 3,570 ex-servicemen had been approved for various forms of trade training of whom 2,793 were ex-cverseas; 732 men were under training at that date in the full-time training centres, 190 at the various branches of the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-establishment League and. 793 were training with private employers on a subsidy basis. In addition 332 men had resumed apprenticeships under subsidy arrangements. No fewer than 908 had already completed training. During July a further 288 were approved for training, 123 commenced their training and 49 completed their courses. These figures clearly show how the scheme has

grown. Of the total, 515, or about one in seven, have discontinued their courses before completion, some on account of ill-health, some for other reasons. . This scheme undoubtedly is going to be of tremendous value both to servicemen and to the country. If you wish to take advantage of it you will be welcome. Remember that if you start and fail to finish you are wasting time and money. .So if you have any doubts talk your plans over with a Vocational Guidance Officer here or in New Zealand. But do not hesitate to use -the scheme if you feel you can

benefit by it. Others can do the unskilled labour. Here’s your chance to-' do a little better than perhaps seemed possible before the war, and* to catch up some at least of the years that that war has taken..