"Youth Must Be Trained To Play Part In Work Force"

Press, Volume C, Issue 29526, 30 May 1961, Page 18

"Youth Must Be Trained To Play Part In Work Force"

Youth would provide the fuller technical and specialised knowledge in New Zealand’s work force and it must have the training and skill needed to handle this responsibility. the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr J. K. Dobson) said yesterday. Speaking at a luncheon to launch Commonwealth Technical Training Week, Mr Dobson said the manufacturing development of New Zealand industry had entered a period of planned expansion supported by Government policy.

“This has achieved the interest of .some of the larger basic industries such as aluminium. steel and so on, and is Opening up a much wider horizon for trained youth,” he said. “This manufacturing expansion must also necessitate similar expansion in our farm industries and in ow distribution and servicing industries. Wider Opportunities “This means that not only is opportunity widening in manufacturing, but also in other fields of industry." Mr Dobson said that if New Zealand was to maintain its standard of living both primary and manufacturing industries had to improve their efficiency and technique.

Only 22 per cent, of young men in the 15 to 20 age group were registered apprentices and this showed the need for much greater expansion in apprenticeship and youth training, he said. Information on all industries should be provided for all educational establishments and this would create a much fuller interest on the part of youth. It would encourage youth to enter occupations with a future rather than those with a high commencing return in unskilled jobs with little or no future prospects, he said. “We are already short of skilled personnel and are increasing our immigration intake to ease the shortage,” said Mr Dobson. "However, this should only be necessary until our own young people are trained and able to take their place in these skilled occupations.”

One of the aims of Commonwealth Technical Training Week was to stimulate awareness of the responsibility of the community towards young people entering employment The week also aimed to give increased opportunity to young people to learn of opportunities available for training and. education and generally to emphasise the significant place of the young worker in society, he said. “It is important that we try to identify the respective responsibilities to ensure that youth is given every opportunity to learn and under-

stand the benefits arising from education and training. "These responsibilities come under four headings: parents, community. industry and Government.”

Mr Dobson said the parents’s responsibility was for the basic preparation of youth for citizenship and this should take place in the home. He said that together with that of the parent should come the responsibility of the community in which youth developed.

"New Zealand is well advanced by comparison with other countries with the facilities available for free education of a high standard. “Then, having given youth the maximum benefit of parental and educational up bringing, it becomes the responsibility of industry to develop their usefulness further."

The Government's responsibility was to ensure that there was sound administration and progressive legislation which was not restricted to industrial development or individual freedom. However, effort from outside sources would be wasted unless youth itself realised in turn its responsibility to the community and for the future development of New Zealand. Mr Dobson added.