WORKLESS YOUTHS

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20472, 16 February 1932, Page 11

WORKLESS YOUTHS

CONTINUATION CLASSES. TECHNICAL COLLEGE ACTIVITY. Keen on securing employment, about 100 lads ranging from fifteen to ill years assembled in the Technical College Hall yesterday afternoon, where they were addressed by Mr T. N. Gibbs (chairman of the Employment Committee of the Chamberof Commerce), Dr. D. E. Hansen (Director of the College), and Mr G. M. Keys (Vocational Guidance Officer to the Y.M.0.A.). The meeting arose out of the one held on Fridav night in the Y.M.C.A. under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. The speakers stressed the necessity of the boys keeping up their studies and maintaining their physical fitness duving such time as they were unable to obtain employment, and stated that 0110 of the worst positions in which the boys could allow themselves to get was that of losing personal interest. In order to avoid such a possibility it was proposed to set up continuation classes which would enable tlie youths concerned t.o study subjects likely to be of use to them when their opportunity to take up positions presented itself. Organised games were also suggested as part of the system of training and care. It was stated that farming offered good prospects for youths who were anxious to take up such a calling, indications being that in a decade or so they would probably be on a sound footing. Drafted Into Groups. The lads were then drafted into four groups:—Agriculture, engineering, woodwork, and clerical. One boy whoss preference was the calling of a shopwalker was drafted into the clerical group, where he will be given training calculated to be of assistance to him later. Another youth showed no interest in the proposed classes whatever. He wanted a job immediately, he said. On being taken to class-rooms which were made available for them for the afternoon, the youths were briefly id dressed again and were called on to supply certain information concerning themselves and families. They were asUed, for instance, for their names, ages, addresses, names of the day-school last attended, date of leaving school and the classes they were last in. If previously employed, they were requested to supply particulars of such work, a'id also to submit details of any previous experience of the calling which nowappealed , to them. Information wa, also sought as follows: —Are parents liv ingf Is father employed? Concerning brothers and sisters, it was asked if they were at school or were employed. Speaking to a representative ol Tin-: I'iihs*. Dr. Hansen stated that although there were 1130 names on ilic; day roll of the College, lie would endeavour to accommodate the lads by placing some of them in existing classe» and allowing others to use certain elasa-

rooms when they were unoccupied, on sucli occasions as tlie class concerned was at drill. He would also go into the question of laying down a special course to suit the individual abilities of the youths, who were expected to attend the College again to-morrow afternoon for further instructions.