RUSH FOR WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 10

RUSH FOR WORK.

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING,

MEN COMPETE WITH YOUTHS.

ADVERTISERS DELUGED.

One hundred and forty people last week sought' a position worth 15/ a week. Many, of 1 the applicants were grown men.

In analysing; the unemployment situation, a factor that is. often overlooked is the ■ difficulty being experienced by young men and women graduating yearly, from the universities and secondary. . institutions in finding positions. One does not have to look far for the reason. The wave of depression caused restricted operations in industry and widespread. unemployment, and vacancies in professions and skilled trades are &t a premium. ;

The majority of employers in Auckland have long waiting lists, but, in isolated cases where they have not, and they require extra assistance, there is a tendency among them to exploit personal recommendations in ' preference to the advertising medium. Pear of being deluged by applicants, including men and women in straitened circumstances who are willing to accept any mortal thing, providing it returns an honest penny, induces them to shun the "wanteds" columns of the newspapers.

Astonishing evidence of the keenness of the competition for all types of work in Auckland, which has an official army of 800 unemployed, was seen by an employed in the radio business who last week advertised for a boy to start on constructional work, the remuneration for a beginning being 15/ a week. Of course, every boy is interested in wireless, and has visions of glorious opportunities which it holds, but the number of replies to the advertisement startled the advertiser. No lefl* than 140 people ?ought the position, personally and by letter. The applicants were not only lads fresh from school or college, though these predominated. Young men wlio had passed their majovitv wye among tfce oHsrer ones, finite willing to work for 15/ «:ee.klvj rather, than remain in idleness. ?»: their rase it was not the special glamour, of radio which attracted, but thf jobiteelf.. ...

Developing the Undesirable. The case stated is typical. An advertisement brings so many replies that we can scarcely get our doorways clear of men, women, boys and girls who want something to provide them with brea,d and butter. There are men in Auckland to-day who have not had constant employment for two years, and during that time have been living from hand to mouth, leaning on the gratuities of charity. Formerly, where people would scorn seeking charity, circumstances compel them to do so. Thus it can be seen we are developing a class of people that is absolutely undesirable. Then again we have boys and girls maturing .who under ordinary circumstances would be absorbed in trades, but cannot get constant work."

Commenting upon the apprenticeship position, Mr. S. E. Wright, secretary of the Employers* Association, stated that the Arbitration Court's limit of apprentices had been reached in most of the skilled trades. Quite a number of boys had commenced at the technical school to learn trades, but had been unable to find positions. Difficulty at the moment was being experienced in placing boys, but the position was likely to be accentuated after Christmas holidays. He could not hold out any bright prospect for the future, as the journeymen employed could cope with the trade that was coming along. A possible solution to the apprenticeship problem was the apprenticing of boys to farming, with the object of ultimately giving them a start on land at present unoccupied but capable of development. Even if the Government was assured of getting back onlv half the money it might expend on such a project, the scheme had much to commend it for the reason that it would provide additional emplovment and improve the productivitv of tlio countrv.