YOUTHS’ WAGES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 147, 3 April 1941, Page 7

YOUTHS’ WAGES

PROBLEM OF HIGH RATES.

A MAGISTRATE'S VIEWS (Sp.) WELLINGTON, April 'J. The opinion that. high 'wage's for youths Avero leading to their doAvnfall and constituting, a grave social problem was expressed by Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M, in the Magistrate's Court to-day Avlien imposing a sentence of two years’ Borstal detention on a 19-yea-r----old tailor, Evan Williams, avlio pleaded guilty to three charges of unlawful conversion of motor-cars. When ho was informed of the amount of the youth’s Avages, the Magistate said that the authorities should seriously consider (lie institution of some compulsory savings scheme. Mr M. F. Luckie, avlio appeared for Williams, . referred to the offences as a “childish, escapade. “You talk of childish escapades in relation to young men of 19 years of age,” said the Magistrate. “Unfortunately childish escapades this Court finds are far too common indeed. They aro part and parcel of the problem that is arising in respect of adolescents and young people throughout the country. One sees at the base of it a very serious social mat’or. That is that Avhen young men of 19 years of age reach a Avago of £4 2s 6d a

week, they are getting as much as many men have on which to keep families, and with Avliich to discharge family responsibilities. . “It is paradoxical in one sense, hut natural in another, that these high sums of money Avliich come into the hands of young people are their doAvnfall and it is a matter Avliich - Avill ‘ have to have very serious consideration by responsible authorities. If their work justifies these amounts then there must he some' compulsory savings scheme so that they don’t have more than is necessary for their needs.. They develop a standard of irresponsible spending 'which they aro unable to break Avlien they have to face up to family responsibilities.”