UNEMPLOYED BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 290, 8 December 1931, Page 6

UNEMPLOYED BOYS.

Provision of work for men has proved so difficult that little attention has been given to the needs of boys, but idleness among boys has its own dangers. Educationists and social workers have been gravely anxious about the fate of many of the boys leaving school. There are not nearly enough jobs to go round, and idleness at this stage of life may have a lasting effect on character. If something i≤ not done, conditions may arise resembling those in England, where great numbers of boys have grown well into manhood without ever having had regular work. It is contended that boys should go on the land, but, as our contributor "Maskee" said yesterday, except for the praiseworthy efforts of a body of publicspirited men, "there is not the semblance of an adequate method of drafting boys into farming." Something must be done, and done sour, and it i≤ satisfactory to learn that the Minister of Education is calling a conference lon the subject. It should meet at once and report with all speed, for this month thousands of boys will be poured out on to an already flooded labour market. If ordinary employment is not offering, boys might be trained in farm camps or in city workshops. Almost anything would be better than letting them drift.