UNEMPLOYED BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1932, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED BOYS.

WHAT IS SOLUTION?

REPORT TO GOVERNMENT.

CO-OPERATION OF CITIZENS.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday,

In their report to the Government on unemployment among boys, Messrs. S. G. Smith and A. E. Ansell, M.P.'s, quote figures which show that boys registered as unemployed in New Zealand total 5908. Of this number 2850 have been placed in employment, the classification being as follows: Placed on farms, 1172; in trade, 42i; in shops and offices, 503; miscellaneous, 604. This leaves a total of 3044 still on the unemployed roll.

"We would point ; out," the report states, "that our recommendations generally for dealing with the problem are qualified so far as Government assistance, monetary and otherwise, is concerned by reason of our knowledge as members' of Parliament of the general economic and Budgetary difficulties brought about by the fall in prices."

Messrs. Smith and Ansell regard the co-operation of existing organisations as essential. "These unemployed boys," they state, "are the nation's greatest asset. The responsibility for dealing with this problem is one which concerns every citizen. We are convinced that an organised committee of' citizens (representative of every walk in life) in the various centres can deal most effectively with the problain. Attitude of Employers. "The problem of placing boys of 17 to 20 years of age in employment is presenting special difficulties right throughout tho Dominion. Employers, it has been found from investigation, are disinclined to take youths over the age of 1(5, the reason given being that the older boys have grown careless and indifferent, are difficult to teach, hard to control, and appear to resent the more elementary duties of the beginner. We appeal, however, to employers not to prejudge nor to condemn the older boys, and suggest that they are at least entitled to a fair trial."

The report recommends that in each centre where the problem exists there should be established a general council, representative of all interests, and dealing with matters of policy and extension of activities. Working in close association with tho general council should be an executive committee consisting of the conveners of sub-committees which would undertake special duties. The activities of the sub-committees should cover: (1) Physical development; (2) general educational development; (3) vocational and prevoeational development; (4) athletic development; (5) social development.

Reference is made by the committee to the possibility of seafaring careers. It recommends that the Government should consult with the British shipping companies with that object, and that a difficulty now experienced of crews being paid off for a month while in Britain might be overcome in respect of these youths by the Government considering some small measure of financial assistance to them during that period. Apprentices Out of Work. "An. especially distressing feature of the problem," states the committee, "is the large number of• apprentices who have uncompleted periods of apprenticeship contracts and who are now unemployed, for the reasons either that there is no work or training in the shop- or factories where they were employed, or their employers, either individuals or firms, have gone out of business on account of the oeneral trade depression." It is pointed out by the committee that unless a remedy is found a most serious condition will arise when trade becomes normal and the demand for skilled men increases, 'because skilled men will then have to be imported and our own boys will become the unskilled workers.

"The normal solution is work," states the report, "but if there is none available a substitute must be found. Technical training can provide the stepping stone to regular employment when industry revives. The country may not at present be able to employ these boys, but can still less afford to let them drift."