WORK FOR 500 BOYS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 19

W O RK FOR 500 BOYS.

jjIBITIOUS SCHEME. 0 campaign suggested. OFOHT TO STfMI LA I K KLSJXKSS. L | Gi/Olp-vhC'UMVr l\'l' lill'l- | •jjj temporary employment- i\.r r.oO Lag* for ji mouth. m <Jie eipectna large percentage of them fining tla-ii lH.siti.--UN. and of wpblif embarking <*n policy freer a . meeting by tho l»<>ys Employment Committee <.j the <';mfclfcan- Chamber of 'Vmmm-e yesafternoon. Tb# aieeting decided to place the M&evfi. which was put forward by tj! j L. Hav. before a meeting of or City business L-TMts, and subsequently before meeting which will go into for launching ihe cam- £££ A special shopping period £?« spectacular nature was also JLgcsted for the purpose of stimuSttßf trade. SJj T. Gibbs preside'!, arid others -asrot'ircrc I>r. C. E. Becby, Dr . D. E. jfeges. Father Burger, the Revs. T. AV. and R. de Lambert.. Messrs A. P y«Tirfll. 6. E. Kviaon, V. McAllister, % E. Lyons. J. I- Hay. H. Bourke, 3. fi. Sheaaan, B. I. Macdonald, P. fc Clement-". J. Monteath, F. W. Hobbs, ■ j jjcEldowney- H. P. Donald, O. M. tgn, JL K. Anderson, H. B. Duckworth, y'g, Leadlcy. E. H. Andrews, and J. w goitb. jjpffrting on bahalf of the "iouth 1 ititt l * Committee. Mr Lyons said that S seeber of meetings had been held fcwriims districts and a very satiacommittee had been formed ingun-*- A similar meeting would be jjjj jj, Sydenham next week. The erpressed thanks to the Mayor ■jlScWton (Mr H. S. S. Kyle, iT.P.) churches for their support. U« report was adopted. gtismlus to Trade. Mr Sty, on behalf of the OpporCommittee, made the following M Bi> generally agreed that the main difficulty in finding employment Jetasis any comprehensive way is '|b trade. "Were it possible stimulus to trade the mf unemployment for boys - wive itself. It is from (f giving an impetus to trade proposals are now put f orHe committee recommends that employment resources b* into action in a jjoiajriiafeA sad determined effort: j immediate employment " to plan and something of an impresnature to stimulate iSp®' i< undoubtedly a feeling justifies tho belief that the jSSiB Is lifting. Becent events together with the expectation I iffjMil lesnlto from the Ottawa Con|K :I liave created a much Snore ■■k outlook than has been the case K time, further, it is generally Hgptliat fear on the part of those HBpJtre in a position to spend, and Hfa the part of the general public, HEn. ono of the main contributing depressing trade. HHHSs suggestion of tho committee is HhSs advantage of the buoyant feelHist is abroad, capitalise it to the Hp so as to dissipate fear, and HHjA something in the nature of a IHh recovery campaign,' Details of |E| campaign have not been conH it any length, but; it would inBHetk* organising of a comprehenMBaad spectacular shopping period, [HPfc* s fortnight. This shopping ■Hgl would require to have the wholejrami backing of the business interHp the City, and would have to KHgigported in a large and enthusiasHnpf by the newspapers. M! Advertising Campaign. lek may be concentrated advertising, and buying for boys and girls. All nations dealing with >e asked to co-operate and help to create the »sion of youth welfare. 1 probably culminate in s making a feature of Is* welfare, services on [gibly a procession eould tnday afternoon. The nay be concentrated on jurchase of other comwould call for most ling, and would require 1 support. No doubt this © forthcoming from, say, 1, Unemployment Board, ions, the Chamber of Eotary Club, and from, lly if the plan is conPfe way can it have any s. lumption that the t'oresgreed to, employers of ut the City would under- • extra boys on the cs■iral in trade, consequent n of the recovery cam;ual employment of boya laign takes place would, , be a most impressive move, and would be the factor ir ensuring sucPublic's Part. crs would feature in fact that 500 boys had nonth's temporary emhe expectation of the ng on freer spending, it a great challenge, and meet with a ready repart ol : every decentIt could be emphaticit that the condition of se boya permanently sustained purchasing of U a meeting of reprosenrade groups, the Press. citizens, probably prehe Mayor. Get the idea » meeting, and then call g of every employer of the newspapers to stress is a point of honour for ' to bo present. At this finitely for guarantees of porary employment for The question of setting Uion to carry out tho or cthenvise, of this

Arbitration Court Awards. , "The question of the suspension of Arbitration Court awards would havo to bo considered, and the Government approached, probably to set aside the operation of these awards for a period Oi say three months." The situation was so grave, said Mr Hay. that it called for efforts simila/to those made during the war. The difficulty lay in stagnation of trade. If war broke out next week tho whole community would put its heart and soul into the business. The most important thing was the setting aside of the Arbitration Court awards. They needed the support of the Mayor of the City, and they were prepared to organise the whole thing if tho committee gave instructions to go ahead. A Gesture Towards Recovery. The chairman said that in other centres there had been campaigns for promoting better conditions. The great idea behind the scheme was to get the public to buy. Moreover, they should endeavour to persuade employers to take the boys on faith. Even if it was only for a month it would bo a gesture towards recovery. "I will guarantee that many of those boys will hold their ,iob, u ." said the speaker. "Thero will be a great psychological effect on the community as a whole." Mr Donald said that, the effort would lmve to be a spectaeular one. The boys' wages would all be spent again in the City, and if Christchurch made a success of it others towns would follow. He was quite sure, lie said, that it would be a success. Mr McEldowney said that there were certain boys who could not be sont to the country, and for these work must be found in the town. Employers would receive a great deal of information about the boys that would later prove worth while. Mr Evison said that lie would like to see {he scheme taken up by a representative committee of business mqn rather than by the present committee, and Mr Hay's guidance would be valuable. However, they must look further afield, for some people thought that tie present situation would last for years. Need for Enthusiasm. Mr Hay: It will call for a large number of committees, and enthusiasm is required. There should be two meetings—one of the Chamber of Commerce and other responsible bodies in the City and later a mass meeting of all employers. If the newspapers could carry the announcement that employers had found work for 500 boys it would do a vast amount of good. Mr Andrews referred to a similar scheme in Sydney, with reference to men. The object, he said, was to employ permanently 50,000 men. In tho first fortnight 15,000 had been taken on. Many pages of advertisements had been used in tho newspapers, and they had helped the scheme tremendously. Mr Hobbs said that he was unable to sco how complete success could bo achieved. Mr Hay had raised the analogy of the war, but that was a great national event, affecting everybody. Tho chairman: So-does this. Mr Hobbs continued that the majority of the people in the City were devoid of enthusiasm, and he could not see how it could be raised by a fortnight of shopping. Even if enthusiasm were aroused it would probably die out afterwards. The intense eloud of depression was world-wide, and, as New Zealand was only a pin-point, it could not lift that cloud. They might do a tremendous amount of work, with little result. Mr Sladen: Even if only 10 per cent, of the boys keep their jobs it will be well worth while.

Scheme Justified? Mr Armour said that if'it was correct that many people were not interested in the situation, then the sooner interest was aroused the better. Mr Leadley said that one cryild not but admire the enthusiasm of the committee, but, he asked, were they justified in telling the people of the Dominion that the depression was over when it was not overt It was true that there were optimistic reports, but they might raise the hopes of the boys, only to cause disappointment at the end of the campaign. Of if they could place 10 per cent, of the boys in jobs the effort would be justified. There was no proposal, however, by which the purchasing power of the people could be increased. ' It. was an optimist indeed who asserted that the public could be induced to spend more freely than at present. Mr Bourke expressed the opinion that some people did not seem to have the faith in advertising that they should, as business men. Advertising, he paid, would circulate more money even in the most depressed of He had no hesitation in saying that if 500 boys were found work a large percentage would retain their positions. Appeal ya Spend. Mr Lyons said 'that the people who should be spending were digging in their toes, and they were the people who should be appealed to. Mr Hay s scheme was worthy of every commendation. Mr de Lambert said that the scheme would result in putting a good psychology into t]je minds of the boys. A new attitude would be of value to them even if the gain to business was small. Mr Maxwell said that if the experiment was successful it could be repeated in three months' time. Boys who secured employment woujd have the prospect of another opportunity and the general effect would be good. The chairman said that the scheme represented a great personal appeal to the imagination of the public. If favourable results were announced from Ottawa it would be helped considerably. Mr Hay's report was adopted, and it was decided to call a meeting of representatives of business interests, followed by a public meeting, to go into details for launching the scheme. Reporting for the Registrations Committee, Mr McAllister said that the committee was not in favour of compulsory registration of boys out of work. Reports obtained from headmasters Regarding boys leaving school favoured the continuation classes. The report was adoptedContinuation Classes. l |T or the Continuation Classes Subcommittee, Mr Evison reported that tho following recommendations had been made:— (1) Boys who are awaiting employ-j ment should attend classes of definite | vocational value. (2) In recommending boys for employment preference be given to those who are attending such vocational classes-or who have continued in attendance at post-primary schools. Special attention was drawn to the vocational classes at present being held for unemployed b'ovs at the Technical College and the Y.M.C.A. (3) As physical deterioration resulting from prolonged unemployment -S most serious because of its definite bearing upon moral 'character, it is essential that boys who are unemployed and are not attending secondary schools should bo encouraged to attend also the recreational classes provided by the Y.M.C.A. and other organisations. (4) It is necessary that the number of hours per week be fixed during which attendance at vocational classes shall be required. We suggest that minimum number of hours per week for attendance at vocational classes should bo at least eight students attending the ordinary evening classes at the Technical College to be credited with their hours of attendance at such classes, (5) The regulations prevent .boys from being admitted to the ordinary classes at technical schools unless they have ob-

tained freo-place certificates. It should bo a recommendation to the Minister for Education that unemployed boys be admitted to evening classes at technical schools, "when necessary, without freecertificates. • (6) A special course, to include manual training instruction, should be provided at selected primary schools for children for whom secondary school classes would not be suitable. (7) AVe heartily endorse " the suggestion that Lincoln College, the Rangiora High School, and the Cbristchurch Jcchnictil College" might co-operato in j oi'mulatuig a scheme of agricultural instruction for unemployed boys. Tho report was adopted. Deputation to Minister. Mr Lyons moved that the Minister for Lducation should be asked to admit unemployed boys to evening classes at echnical schools on the certificate of the principal of the sehool. , .' 0 potion was carried, and it was oeeided to follow up the representations vj.tn a deputation. a* 1 ' Bo " ald reported that thero were oAw n T l,ies ? n tho Y.M.C.A. roll. 1 that number 457 were awaiting emrloyment; no replies had been received • . enquiry bureau from 196: 309 "ere m permanent positions: 85 in tememPlo. vment : 73 were farming; ur,W passcd the matriculation cxnu'nt ami r? re 111 Permanent employ, mtnt, and o4 were waiting. report was adopted.

FROM. SCHOOL TO WORK. THE TRANSITION STAGE. Report by dr. c. e. beeby. Ihe tollowing memorandum by Dr. C. E. Bceby, of Canterbury College, which camo up too lato for discussion at the meeting called by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Boys' Employment Committee yesterday afternoon, was released for publication: This memorandum aims to offer a partial solution to juvenile unemployment, the contemplated relaxing of apprenticeship restrictions, the changing nature of apprenticeship itself, and the resulting division of labour, and the need for an adequate system of transition from school to work. Whilst recognising tho unsatisfactory and negative nature of many of these restrictions, I believe there is a danger in their complete abolition unless something positive can be substituted. For tho unacademic typo of intelligent boy, apprenticeship, as originally concoived, constituted the logical conclusion of his formal education. Many trades still technically classified as skilled involve little but unskilled or s<?mi-skilled labour. Apprenticeship in such trades has already lost most of its moaning and its educational value.

Twin Apprenticeship Schfime. Tt is proposed that legislation bo passed making it impossible to employ any boy or girl below tho ago of, say, sixteen (tho exact age to be discussed) for moro than half-time, and making it compulsory for every child below that age to attend school or other classes for at least half-time. Any employer wishing to engage a boy would engage a pair. Each boy would alternate, say, a fortnight on the job and a fortnight in school, and would/ bo paid only for his working periods. _ « As to unemployment, either (a) the number of juveniles in employment below the ago of sixteen would be doubled, or (b) vacancies would b© created for older boys and girls. Those employers who objected to working undor the scheme would be able to tako on older boys for full time. This would give relief where it is most needed. (N.B.— The 1926 census report gives number of boys below sixteen in employment as, roughly, 8500.) The total wages paid would remain tho same, tho only additional burden on tho employer being the necessity for training two boys instead o one Each boy would receive only half the present full wage. All local authorities, however, seem to be agreed that the problem of wages in negligible, compared with that of moral deterioration through continued unemployment.

Expenditure on Education. Should the number of cm P'°>' e below the age of 10 be doubled by tins Seme little additional burden would he thrown, on the educational system, as (excepting for the mllux of boy Ti present idle) the total number ol boys at any one time would show no increase. The new boys employed wou d have to leave school for .half-time m order to take up the positions. It is orobable. however, that many jurnqr positions would bo filled by boys of 16 and over, so that a number of bo>s under 16 would have to bo provided with half-time education. On tho basis of tho 1926 census wo know that this number could not exceed 8000 halftime boys, equivalent, of course, to 4250 full-time boys. Iho number would certainly bo far below this figure, but, at its maximum, it would not be much Tenter than tho additional stiain involved in the contemplated plan to raise t.hs general school-leaving age to 15. (Some-3000 additional full-time boys would be involved under such a plan.) , , | Children would be under tho control of the educational system until wellestablished in industry. The "adolescent gap" between school and work would be effectively bridged. Mal-ad-justed children would bo given special attention during this period. A more complete and all-round training would be' given under the twin apprentice scheme than under existing conditions. School work would get morn meaning from c-ontact with practical life, and progress on the job itself should be accelerated and understanding deepened by the more theoretical training in the school. "Part-time Education. It is not proposed that part-time education should be of a purely trade or vocational typo, although it would probably have a manual bias. It should certainly provide for each boy the theoretical aspects of his job which ar,e at present supposed to be given by the apprenticeship system. But it should give more. It should be of a sufficiently 'broad and cultural nature to turn out good citizens rather than merely good plumbers. Civics, elementary economics and sociology, art. literature, and music would playan essential part in the curriculum. The essence of the plan is the relatively generalised nature* of tho training provided. Were it a narrow trade training, the result would be absurd, for it would only end in the production of two plumbers where only one is required. Flexibility and adaptability can be given only by a generalised education. The ultimate aim of combined parttime school and work should bo to turn out a man who (a) knows one job thoroughly, both in theory and practice, and is mentally and physically suited for it; <b) knows enough about principles, tools and processes to be able to transfer his skill, at short notice, to some allied occupation, should economic conditions malco such a move necessary; (c) has acquired habits ol industry, initiative, etc., which will be of us© in any occupation; (d) knows enough about the social system to be

able to use hi a citizenship intelligently. This involves the possession at siiibeiciit, cultural interests to ensure a " sc of leisure; (e) docs not think his education is finished when he leaves school or completes his indenture. Lmiei modern conditions this result is beyond the reach of cither school or industry. working independently of each other. Extension of Classes. Much of this half-time education might, for the present, he organised on a voluntary basis, as an extension of the continuation classes for unemployed boys at present run by the Y.M.C.A., and the Technical College, The W.E.A. might be used to advantage. Unemployed teachers might also be absorbed, and such buildings as the old Normal School used, at a relatively small cost. The scheme would covr>r all forms of work, clerical as well as manual. Boyb at present proceeding to matriculation would generally stay on at full-time schools, though not necessarily so. Special arrangements might have to _ be made in the case of some occupations such as farming. If alternation of schools and work proved impossible, it might bo possible for the boys to attend school in the off-season. Tho proposal is not a mere emergency scheme. There is n considerable body of educational opinion in favour of such a system as an ideal. At the same time, it might be applied together with most of the emergency schemes proposed to this committee, e.g., with tho proposal to set up boys' co-operative workshops.

SMALL FARM PLAN

SOME DETAILS COMPLETED. IJ.-RISS* iSSOC'IiTIOS TEl.EG.n*«.> WELLINGTON, July 29. With the object of discussing certain essential points of procedure affecting the small farm plan for the relief of unemployment and of arriving at. a uniform basis for dealing with numerous points that have arisen concerning the scheme, a conference was held in Wellington between field officers of the Department of Agriculture from various parts of tho Dominion. Until this preliminary work had been carried out it was thought desirable to suspend for a brief period certain proposed activities. Arrangements have now been made with regard to the share-milking part of the plan, and all applications concerning this section of the scheme will •be speedily dealt with. The field officers of the Department report that the number of offers of land and the terms attached to these offers have been reasonably satisfactory, and that a very large number of applications from those desiring to bo placed have come to h;nid. It is anticipated that no difficulty will be experienced in selecting from the applicants men who, especially by reason of previous experience, will be entirely suitable for farming areas available. When the whole of tho arrangements connected with the small farm plan arc completed it is confidently anticipated that a large number of applicants will be able to improve their present position. The number of men who can be placed under the plan, either on small holdings of about ten acres or on the share-milking side of the scheme, will be determined by the available finance provided for under tho Unemployment Amendment Act this rear, nanip.lv £500,000.

WOMEN'S COMMITTEE. 'the following report of yesterday's meeting of the Women's Unemployment Committee ha 3 been supplied by the committee:— The meeting of the Women's Unemployment Committee was held yesterday, Mrs Fraer (vice-chairman) in chair. Misß GJen tendered her resignation as a member of tho committee, and it was accepted with regret. A letter was recived from Mrs Grant, Unemployed Workers' Movement, asking for representation on the committee. It was decided that the application be declined on the ground that the constitution of the committee provides for adequate representation of the women unemployed. Mr P. R. Climie wrote acknowledging rocipt of a vote of thanks for his assistance in connexion with the work of the committee. It was decided to approach the chairman of the Traimyay Board, seeking assistance towards the transport of unemployed women and girls to the various de*pots. The Cookery Sub-Committee reported that work in connexion with the new Centre would be commenced on Monday next. Now registrations, 7; placed in positions, 16. There were 168 on the live register. Mr J. Roberts gave notice of motion to move at,'the next ni * lag: _ "That the resolution passed last meeting, excluding Press reporters from tho meetings of the committee be rescinded.'' A letter from the Journalists' Association regarding the exclusion of reporters from the meetings was referred to the executive to formulate a suitable reply to the association.