SOUTH CHRISTCHURCH BOYS' COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20862, 23 May 1933, Page 15

SOUTH CHRISTCHURCH BOYS' COMMITTEE.

A CANVASS OF THE DISTRICT. A meeting of the South Christchurch District Boys' Employment Committee was held last evening, at which arrangements were made to canvass for a list of unemployed boys in the district. The Rev. L. A. Rogers presided. Mr V. French, representing the central committee, said that there must be hundreds of unemployed boys in South Christchurch alone, and it was hoped not only to find positions but also to provide activities for them. The com.mittee of the Young Men's Christian Association had already arranged for physical culture classes, and attempts were being made to provide some occupation for every unemployed boy. The first thing was to encourage South Christchurch boys to register themselves and join in the activities provided for them. In other districts canvasses had been made and lists of names of unemployed boys had been made. All these boys had been circularised and their names handed in to the association. The main thing which he could emphasise was the necessity for getting hold of the boys and obtaining definite facts of the position. Mr Rogers said that the work of the committee was to explore the field in its particular area. He had already told Mr A. J. McEldowney, general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, that St. David's Church schoolroom could be used for physical training classes. Mr G. E. Franklin, representing the Young Men's Christian Association, said that Mr McEldowney had asked him to report that physical training would begin in the schoolroom on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10.30 a.m. The first class would begin on May 29. The first thing was to secure the names of the boys. The whole success of the movement depended on getting the names of the boys in order

to be sure of the facts of the position and if the Young Men's Christian Association knew of these boys it would be possible to do something for them. Mr Rogers said that the committee had really been formed at a previous meeting, but it was necessary to elect a permanent secretary and chairman. Mr D. C. Shier was elected chairman and Mr A. E. Hardie secretary. After a discussion of the area which would be covered it was decided to call the committee the South Christr church District Boys' Employment Committee. In answer to a question, Mr French said that in other districts there had been excellent response to the canvassing activities. Boys who were registered would not oe promised work, but they would have definite chances of getting work. It was necessary to avoid prpmising boys work if they would register. It was unanimously decided to institute a canvass of the district for the names of unemployed boys, arid to make arrangements for this work. A i special sub-committee was set up, coni sisting of the chairman, the secretary, and Messrs J. A. Johnstone, and J. G. Brown.

INCREASED RATIONS. PROPOSAL OF RELIEF ASSOCIATION. Proposals for in.-easing the supply of rations allowed by the relief Cepots in the city are under consideration by a special committee of the Citizens* Metropolitan Relief Association. The committee, which consists of Mr George Harper (chairman), Bishop Brodie, and Messrs W. W. Scarff and J. W. Woodbury, was set up by the association to consider and report as t- the further steps to be taken to ensure to distressed persons a more adequate ration than, that which the association is now endeavouring to supply to them. A meeting of the committee was held on Friday, when valuable information obtained from the Faculty of Home Science at the Otago University, and from the borough of Hutt, Wellington, regarding the adequacy of the rations that should be issued and as to co-ordination between the various local bodies in the administration of relief schemes was considered. It was decided to suggest to the Mayor (Mr D G. Sullivan, M.P.) and to Mr H. J. Otley (chairmr.n of the North Canterbury Hospital Board), tha.t they should receive a deputation from the committee for the purpose of discussing some better method of supplying rations to those in need. Friday next, at 2.30 p.m., was tentatively suggested as *he time for the conference, and the Mayor said yesterday that he was agreeable to that date.