420 THE TRAINING OF FITTER-APPRENTICES- 



received from a non-railway source in the ten years from 1905 

 to 1914. During that period nine apprentices were taken on 

 annually; the number of applicants in the neighbourhood has 

 varied irregularly from 12 to 25 for the nine vacancies. In 

 addition to the economic condition of the local industry and of 

 the trade [generally], there is certainly some element of chance 

 in the number of applications for apprenticeship in the State 

 Railways. 



After the War there will be a great shortage of good 

 mechanics for several years, and private firms will endeavour 

 to secure the best men by offering high wages. In expectation 

 of this scarcity, several important Associations, such as the 

 Society of German Engineers and the Association of German 

 Engineering Works, have turned their attention to the thorough 

 and careful training of young blood. In 191 1, Dr. B. A. Rieppel, 

 Government Inspector, Nuremberg, moved the following reso- 

 lution as a member of the Labour Committee for Lower Techni- 

 cal Schools -.-^ 



" The engineering trade must maintain a staff of apprentices and 

 provide u four years' training [to the extent of] — 



" (c) Fitters and Turners, each 20 per cent, of the mechanics em- 

 ployed ; and 



" (b) Moulders, Pourers and Smiths, each 12 per cent, to 14 per 

 ceint." 



The Labour Committee, however, put forward that, 



" Assuming a 3 to 4-years' training, and taking the average 

 working life of a trained mechanic as 30 years, 10 to 12^ apprentices 

 for every 100 mechanics would appear to be sufficient to meet the 

 requirements of any works." 



In the choice of candidates for a vacancy the business man 

 or works manager chooses the best ; it would be an advantage 

 if the same condition-* could be fulfilled when selecting railway 

 apprentices ; but, unfortunately, this is not always possible. In 

 taking on apprentices, actually the future traffic and workshop 

 superintendents are enrolled, which is sufificient reason for 

 extreme care. Also, there is the danger of a boy being pushed 

 into the trade of fitter by his family contrary to his inclinations 

 or to his suitability, simply because there is an opening which 

 can be secured fairly easily on the score of necessity. Workmen 

 have themselves pointed out that this danger really exists. 

 Engaging a boy as a railway apprentice eases the condition of 

 his family and [thus] assumes unintentionally the nature of 

 economic relief. As a rule the number of applicants claiming 

 special consideration on the ground of poverty is large, and 

 double the number of vacancies often would not suffice. The 

 usual reasons are urged — large families, death of one or both 

 parents, etc. In the case of the son of a widow with numerous 

 children, the father having been killed in the employ of the rail- 

 wav as a shunter, for example, it must be admitted that it is 



