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6o
Apprenticeships.
94. The Education Committee considered, on the motion
of Councillor Renshaw, the subject of Apprenticeships,
and submitted the following report thereon,
which was adopted by the Council, viz.:—
(a) We are of opinion that a constructive scheme should be carefully
elaborated by the Education Authority that will enable deserving boys
and girls to learn under proper conditions, directly they leave school a trade
or suitable occupation which the parents should select where possible.
(b) To do this we are of opinion that for apprentices the school age should be
raised to the age considered necessary in each trade to learn that
particular trade and to complete the apprenticeship.
(c) That either premium agreements or trade apprenticeships in masters' and
manufacturers' workshops and jobs should be instituted, so that the
boy or girl can learn the trade or occupation chosen in working conditions
and under the supervision of the employers' own foremen.
(d) That hours of labour suitable to the trade chosen can readily be arranged
1with employers, it being an essential condition that time shall be allowed
where desired for afternoon classes on one or two days a week, so
that theory can be taught hand in hand with practice.
(e) We suggest that boys or girls who gain Scholarship rewards should first
have the option of choosing a scholastic or a trade training; where a
trade is chosen an apprenticeship with an approved employer could be
entered into for an agreed term of years.
(f) We suggest for the consideration of the Education Authority that the
Scholarship rewards to such children should be an apprenticeship or
premium fund tor payment to the employers of a suitable premium
according to the trade chosen, such premium being returned in the form of
weekly wages.
(g) We suggest that children other than those who gain Scholarships should have
the same privileges as far as vacancies and trades can be found, but in their
case the premium, if any, should be advanced by the Education Authority,
and refunded in whole or in part by the parents by agreed instalments.
(h) That apprentices should work the hours customary in the chosen trade,
but in every case they should cease work sufficiently early to attend
evening classes in technical subjects.
(i) That the continued employment of the apprentices should be subject
to good behaviour and satisfactory progress; in cases of bad conduct
or unsuitability the agreement could be mutually cancelled and a due
proportion of the premium money, if any, be refunded.
(j) To induce parents to apprentice their boys we are of opinion that the
premiums should be kept as low as possible, and suggest that £10 should
be regarded in most trades as a sufficient premium, and that even this
sum should be waived wherever the employer will agree to do so.
(k) We suggest that all such apprentices should be subject to inspection by the
Education Authority's representative from time to time in working hours
and that such Inspector shall satisty himself that the conditions of
employment and training are being reasonably fulfilled 011 both sides ; the
employer should report twice yearly as to the conduct, punctuality, and
progress of each apprentice.
(l) That such wages as should be agreed upon, and suitable to the trade chosen,
should be paid weekly to the apprentices, graduated and increased each
year as experience is gained; such weekly wages to be set out in a
schedule as part of the apprenticeship agreement.
(m) That for the purposes of this scheme the number of boys allowed to each
shop or job by Trade Union rules be increased as may be mutually
agreed.