4l6 THE TRAINING OF FITTER-APPRENTICES- 



As all the apprentices cannot be employed together in any 

 department or section of the workshop at one and the same 

 time, it becomes necessary to distribute them among the various 

 sections. This distribution requires considerable care, as it is 

 necessary to ensure that each apprentice goes through every 

 section as prescribed, that the prescribed time is adhered to in 

 each, and that the number of apprentices that can be accommo- 

 dated at one time in any section is not exceeded. This is best 

 done bv preparing beforehand a tabular scheme showing the 

 order in which the apprentices, or groups of apprentices, enter 

 the various sections of the workshops. Such a table appears on 

 the opposite page. 



The distribution table or schedule just described is used to 

 indicate to the apprentices the progress they are making. Copies 

 of the form are posted on notice boards in each shop, the columns, 

 in the first instance, being kept blank ; the key letters for the 

 various sections of the training are entered against each a])i>ren- 

 tice cr apprentice-group as he (or they) enter the section laid 

 down as next in order. In all departments, or sections, of the 

 main workshops the apprentice is still considered as belonging 

 to the " training workshop," and, consequently, the apprentice's 

 progress is supervised by the chief-instructor of the " training" 

 workshop," as is required by the Regulations, who promotes him 

 accordingly to the next section in order of training. The appren- 

 tices are under the control of the chief instructor in every respect, 

 even as regards behaviour out of work hours, until the period 

 of apprenticeship [four years] has been completed. The regular 

 instruction under continual supervision and strict discipline pro- 

 duces very excellent results that have been repeatedly praised by 

 recognised experts. The change from one section to the next 

 takes place on the first of each month [in the cases of those 

 promoted]. It has still to be proven whether it is de.slrable to 

 place apprentices in a particular group [once and for all] or to 

 I>ut them singly into existing groups [on promotion to the next 

 section]. Opinion on this point is divided. 



Every apprentice carries ( n his person a report-form, which 

 nuist be produced on demand. The apprentices attend'with their 

 forms before the Board of Directors at the end of each period 

 [half-yearly] of instruction; the apprentices are questioned by 

 the Directors, and from the manner of replying and general 

 bearing. t(igether with the portion of the report dealing with 

 diligence, progress, and behaviour, provided by the work-master, 

 and the remarks and notes of the chief-instructor and the 

 works manager or engineer, [the Directors], taking into account 

 whether the latter is or was employed by the Railway Company, 

 are able t(^ arrive at the relationship [suitability] between the 

 cipprentice and the Railway Administration. The cases of 

 apprentices who appear to be badly developed or ill may be gone 

 into. The result of the apprentice's examination [in bis trade, 

 "proefwerk"] is confirmed by [endorsed on] the form. 



