when you get back

Korero (AEWS), Volume 2, Issue 14, 17 July 1944, Page 14

when you get back

POSSIBLE JOBS FOR SERVICEMEN

ENGINEERING TRADE General Comments The following three limiting factors have to be remembered when considering some of the branches of the engineering trade :— (1) The introduction of the auxiliary training scheme brought about by the demand for munitions. This has led to the training of extra men as well as of women : (2) The employment of women other than auxiliary workers for the less-skilled operations. Many of these women will no doubt take up or resume domestic life after the war : (3) The expert training given to large numbers of fitters, turners, radio technicians, motor mechanics, and the like in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. These factors are certain (in post-war years) to affect the position of the unskilled and semi-skilled worker. To safeguard his own interests a tradesman needs to be highly qualified, or else to choose a trade in which the above three factors do not apply. It is significant to note that in Australia during a recent falling-off in industry, after the war-peak production had been reached, it was the unskilled worker who found himself unemployed, while the skilled worker was not only retained, but was required to work overtime. At the same time, new developments are almost certain to take place in the field of secondary industries, and in many such industries men with a basis knowledge of engineering trades —

We have tried to make the information given here as complete and accurate as possible, but it should be remembered that changing conditions may. invalidate some of it. These articles can be regarded, therefore, only as a general guide. They do not bind Korero or any authority.

e -g,, fitters and turners —will be able to find employment. Most of these occupations are paid at a minimum rate of about 2S. yd. to 2s. I id. per hour. Sheet-metal Working Tinsmithing and copper-smithing are two branches of sheet-metal work which is a skilled trade with an apprenticeship period of five years. The development of modern machines has limited its scope, so that it offers few openings at the present time. Nevertheless, copper and galvan-ized-iron work will always be important to New Zealand, which has much use for such articles as roofing-iron, spouting, ridging, flashings, tanks, domestic hotwater cylinders, milk-cans, and vats. Sound health and manual dexterity are necessary, and the higher grade positions call for ability in design-work, lettering, and the use of colours. In copper-

smithing, particularly, some knowledge of physics and chemistry is useful. Technical school training is desirable. Lead Burning

In fertilizer and other chemical works where corrosive acids and other chemicals are largely used there is scope for employment of a small number of lead-burners. These are really sheet-metal workers who specialize in lead. Openings are by no means numerous, but steady well-paid employment is the rule. The award rate is about 2s. yd. to 2s. rod. per hour.