YOUTHS AND THE BASIC WAGE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21860, 13 August 1936, Page 6

YOUTHS AND THE BASIC WAGE

Serious Concern Felt By Employers

CHANCES OF OLDER BOYS PREJUDICED One aspect of the Governments announced intentions regarding the fixation of the basic wage is causing considerable concern among employers of youth and apprentice labour. That is the fixation of the minimum age for recipients of the basic rate at 21 years. It is contended by some employers that if youths must be paid the basic rate on attaining the age of 21 > It is only reasonable that they slmum commence their employment at an earlier age than at present, in order that the ß employers might have the benefit of their services for a longer period during the time when they are befng trained. So widely is this view held 8 that 16 is tending to become a maximum age for entering rmPayment, and there is a feeling that boys of 17 and upwards may be sencu y prejudiced in their endeavours to obafternoon I was approached by an employer who wanted a boy not more than 16 years of ago. sai Dr D. E. Hansen, principal of tne Christchurch Technical College, yesterday. “This is only one of manv similar applications that I received during recent, weeks. The employer said he wanted a youn to so that he could have a reasonable period to train him before he was obliged to pay him a full mans rate of wages. Those of us who a engaged in the education and training of boys are greatly concernedat the present position, and we hope that tne school leaving age will be raised m order to prevent boys being withdrawn into industry before they reach r proper stage of development.

Effect on Apprenticeship Contracts Dr. Hansen sa’d the oue*t\"n been discussed this week with the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. i. Armstrong), with a view to securing the passage of legislation to prevent the basic wage rate from cutting across the terms of apprenticeship contracts. If this could be ach-w-d it would secure the position of boys entering trades, and enable them 10 receive a reasonably long term at a secondary school before commencing work. On the other hand there v ere no such safeguards regarding boys entering office work, and , remedy seemed to be in the raising oi the school age. The Minister appeared to be favourable to the idea of apnrenticesVn contracts being allowed to run their fuU time, but there was another possibility to be considered, and that was the introduction of a shorter apprenticeship for boys who remained at school until they were 18. “It is very important for our New Zealand boys that they should have every chance of obtaining their tr" training.” Dr. Hansen added. _ We certainly do not want to import trained men frcm overseas, and leave our own boys to become just navvies end labourers. should be encouraged to remain at school after the age of 16 in the assurance that they wiU not prejudice their future livelihood by doing so.” Older Boys May Suffer

“The situation which has arisen is likely to have serious consequences for those boys who left school during the depression, and who would now be looking forward to being absorbed in commerce and industry by the steady improvement in conditions, said Mr G. M. Keys, of the Boys’.Employment Committee. demand, of emplayers is to.be far boys of 15 or IS. coys of the former class, between .17 ahl 19 years of age. will be gravely penalised'in their attempts to embark on a working career. At the^ same time the schools will be robbed of their senior pupils at an age when they are likely to receive the greatest benefits from their education.” . ' No doubt’Some parents would be attracted by the higher wage prospect, and might take their boys from school, but it was early yet to say what the full effect -would be. said Father A. L Burger, rector of St. Bede’s Colleger He had that day been advised by Father. J. Dowling, of St Patrick’s College. Silverstream, president of th~ Association of Heads of Registered Secondary Schools, of the reply received to representations made to the Government on the, subject.

View of Minister

- The Minister’s view was that any recent increase in the number of boys leaving secondary schools was caused bv the; expansion of trade. In \iis letter “ha stated that he did not consider that the new legislation would have any effect at all on boys at secondary schools. Employers might prefer to take a boy from a secondary school at the age .of 18, with his wider general education, to replace boys who had started at 15 and lacked that extra knowledge. The (opinion that the Government was not .unaware of the consequences of Its basic wage policy was expressed by Mr J. S. Barnett "As far as I am able to judge,” he said, “the cure for the present Position, would be to. raise, the school leaving age. Even n~w many, employers realise that a boy who leaves school at 18 is probably a better proposition than the boy who leaves at. 15 or 18, and is likely to be a better, equipped employee at 21. notwithstanding his later start In bis employment”