Bay of Plenty Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19th., 1937 UNEMPLOYMENT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12255, 19 February 1937, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19th., 1937 UNEMPLOYMENT

Not so very long ago unemployment was the main topic everywhere; now, fortunately, that word has given place to “recovery.” This amelioration should enable scientists to give close attention to the causes of unemployment, which is not a peculiar phenomenon, or a monopoly of any one country, but, as the depression has disclosed, it has been universal. It has had the whole civilized world in its grip, and has affected, more or less, all the strata - of society. ■ Briefly speaking it is the consequence of a world-wide trade depression. Movements in the economic sphere taking place in one country, find responses, and have repercussions, in other countries thousands of miles away. Up to the present, efforts have been concentrated in getting back into work those who

have been rendered jobless through the depression, but that can only, at very best, be described as a temporary expedient, there is the far larger and more important problem of dealing with the annual draft of yoirths who are ready and willing to work but for whom it is difficult to find suitable employment. Lack of employment for the educated youth in several countries is a problem that is steadily forcing its way to the front. The professions tend to become overcrowded. An improvement in trade conditions may ameliorate the lot of those already engaged therein, but will certainly not provide a living for increased numbers. The question seriouslyminded people are asking is how are the nations to deal with the problem ? And it may be asked, too, how are we to deal with it in New Zealand, with our population showing such a small annual increase ? Of course the difficult}' could be overcome by finding new avenues of employment, but that is not always possible. No single or universal remedy is to be found for this problem. Neither educational reconstruction alone, nor an economic adjustment alone is likely to solve it. The evil is neither purely educational, not; purely economic—it is a social evil, using the phrase in its most comprehensive sense. An authority holds that the remedy will be found in a social reconstruction and a corrected'mentality and outlook on life. Society must devote greater attention and thought to the economic conditions of life as well as to the most suitable education of our young men. But there must be a change in the outlook of young men and women. They must learn to recognise the dignity of honest labour in all walks of life. They cannot expect to be able to lead a sheltered life—spoon-fed by their parents, and then by the State. They must not refuse to put their hands to a piece of work simply because it is not consistent with their conception of what is due to their social status. Such a vision of work will not create captains of industry and commerce. Educationalists, parents and leaders must endeavour to inculcate the dignity of honest labour, and it should be remembered that with the advance of science in every field of labour men with education are needed.