H—ll

The following table gives the approximate number of apprentices in the trades to which the Act now applies :

Return showing Number of Apprentices employed in Skilled Trades, April, 1946

When these figures are compared with those of the previous year it will be noted that there has been a considerable decrease in the number of apprentices serving in the Armed Forces—namely, from 4,291 to 2,059. This has been due to the demobilization of such apprentices, and the revival of their contracts, which were previously suspended under the terms of the Suspension of Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations 1944, has contributed towards the increase from 8,068 to 11,301 in the number of apprentices actually working at their trades. A number of apprentices who have revived their contracts of apprenticeship after serving in the Armed Forces may be entitled, in terms of the Suspension of Apprenticeship Emergency Regulations 1944 (Serial number 1944/23), to apply to the appropriate Apprenticeship Committee for credit under the contract for any training they may have had while in the Forces at their apprenticeship trade. The number of new contracts registered during the year ended 31st March, 1946, was 3,133. This compares with previous years since 31st March, 1935, as follows : 690 ; 1,292 ; 2,328 ; 3,235 ; 2,700 ; 2,840 ; 1,974 ; 2,441 ; 1,917 ; 2,096 ; 2,962. For the building trades only —namely, bricklaying, carpentering, painting, plastering, and plumbing—the figures are : 31st March, 1946, 1,024 ; previous vears from 31st March, 1935 :" 145 ; 307 ; 585 ; 850 ; 876 ; 783 ; 460 ; 497 ; 372 ; 484 ; 960. By section 7 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1936, the Minister of Labour is enabled to approve of contracts of apprenticeship in the case of persons of eighteen years of age and over upon such terms as the Minister thinks just and reasonable. During the year ended 31st March, 1946, 141 such contracts were registered. Details are : carpentry 34 ; coachworking, 5 ; electrical, 20 ; engineering, 22 ; motor engineering, 23 ; furniture, 5 ; painting and decorating, 4; plastering, 3 ; miscellaneous, 25. These contracts were submitted in the first case to the appropriate Apprenticeship Committee, if any, and were recommended for approval.

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Number of Apprentices. I Trade. Number of Apprentices. Trade. Working at Trade. Serving in Armed Forces. "Working at Trade. Serving in Armed Forces. Baking 215 71 Hatmaking 6 3 Boatbuilding 54 7 Jewellery 96 13 Boilermaking 68 5 Leadlight 11 Bootmaking 314 67 Masonry 16 6 Boot-repairing 66 7 Moulding 70 30 Blacksmithing 29 5 Painting 320 57 Bricklaying 32 5 Photo-engraving 66 8 Carpentering 2,170 303 Plastering 107 20 Clothing 144 33 Plumbing 634 88 Coachbuilding 288 73 Printing 723 162 Coopering 4 Saddlery 31 7 Cycle-working 1 Sail and tent making 2 2 Dentistry 44 2 Tailoring 20 8 Electrical 989 199 Tilelaying 1 Engineering 1,814 269 Tinsmithing 170 39 Motor engineering 1,656 373 Wicker-working 7 1 Furniture 1,019 176 Wire-working 1 Furriers 1 Gardening 6 1 Hairdressing 106 19 Totals 11,301 2,059