Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-09

APPRENTICE PROBLEM
}, TAKEN UP BY BUILDERS
Committee on Industrial Education in Report to Ma
tlohal Convention, Points to Need of Trained Men
ana Urges Training of Former Service Men.

builders "f Virginia. and OF tho
n"tion. are facing grave problem
IN IN" matter Of trained npprcn,ic..
thh NJ th" national convention held
~ M"mphiS. Tenn. recently the sub
Jcct was handled at some length ly
me committee on industrial "duca-
tion. Members OF the Richmond
week heard tho committees report
rcah. The report follows.
Industrial F:durntIon.
Dnf!nS the past year your com
r'ltt'e has .ld"avorcl TO view the
Subject OF Industrial education ia its
trnhdest sense. and /, tx simply
amazing what may be and has boo ~
cOmprchcndcd under the general
.ern. industrial education Tn.
h?ld of investigation and spocula-
ton is exceedingly broad. but We
hive felt That the national associn-
Ton wanted. ttc work OF this COM
m!i'ec - bn OF such IA nature that
The results would be OF practical
benefit To- tho building Industry. Evi.
IDENTIFY tho most practical thing for
The building Industry today is tho
ipaEtng OF vcrkmgn for tn. build
lag Industry OF tomorrow. and your
CommIttc" hclieVcs that this rightly
comes under tho heading ~ indus
trial education ana is Il division OF
tho subject which requires iinme-
date attention.. and believes that It's
Work can well be confined To this
division alone.
Shortage or. Trained Men
ut Is a fact that under fairly nor
nal conditions In the industry Their.
~ a shortage OF ra-ily trained men
In all trades. in times Of real ac.
trity this shortage becomes serious
ana results In the Introduction OF
l"sh skilled ~orkmcn with Increased
costs and unsatisfactory work This
shortage - due not only 10 the re
strict!On OF apprentices hy union
rules. but ~ the Indifference which
nv many eases becomes Hat re-
iIHai on the part 81 employers to
MAX" and L!sr apprentices. Your
committee feel. that this is q coudi-
;ion which, unless corrected. h. going
- affect m" entire industry In tho
ftiurc In most serious manner.
In almost every line Of business ape-
tal efforts are being made TO de-
Nclop the younger men Opr"r,uui-
tcs 10 the way OF practica. training
are offered To tLc young man today
that his father l'Gy"r had. All larG.
firms have their CLASSES In salesman
ship, factories have their wcll-ar-
ranged courses in training, but tn"
building industry fails in a large
extent y" recruit its ranks ri WORK p
men with proper material The very
nature Of construction WORK requires
50 much OF individual ability tha, 1t
~ especially n"cdful that the train
!Iy Di apprentices tc not overlooked
Hrrornmcnds Active Cnmpnian.
Your committ'" recommends that
O. most nctiv" campaign b" "asel FOR
the making %: apprentices In al the
building trades. that each exchange
"a Il l.s
apprentice question. that articles
dealing with tho subject be printed
ia the hBilrtinS and records OF tho
various exchanges. that special car"
be exercised in the making Of trade
agreements; that not only there b"
ne Improper restrictions on The max :
ing OF apprentices, but that Il hc OBJ
JgRtory on the part OF both employer
and cmploye tina, a certain definite
number Of apprentices be trained
yearly. that the various stat" laws
dealing with apprentices lie studied
with the view uf rcComn"Hdi ihc
good points OF such laws 70 ether
communities that The making or APP
prcntlccs should not be let 10 the
Individual cmployc.. but that II be
done In accordance with definite
plan and under the contro! of the
local exchange.
"iu closing. wc would say that
the present time, with ia thousands
Of cx-scrviCa men out - employment
seems AN unusun! opportunity TOT
starting "A campaign for making APP
rrcnticcs, aud IL is our hone that lac
employers in this great c"nftruet!on
Industry of ours VIII not van To YAK
advantage OF the times and see trat
the ranks Of the workmcn are re-
crui,ad with men property trained.
and thus be assured stabiity In
ih, Industry for many years 10 come.
"JOHN W. BEEkMAN. JR,
''chairmaG.'
Iornl Action SnHgcsted.
Tho resolutions committee AZ the
Memphis convention reported III
part, AS follows:
...-,h. abl. report OF tho committee
ln.,rial cluNAt ion. Nnhm ittcn