THE BASIC WAGE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 11

THE BASIC WAGE

Problem of Employing Youths HON. P. FRASER HEARS DEPUTATION Impressed With Gravity of Position An indication that the Government recognised the need tor giving assistance in the case of youths who are Enable to find employment because of the difficulty arising out of the basic wage requirements, was given by the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, in reply to a deputation from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which waited on him recently. The chamber supplied the following report yesterday for publication: — “Following the Press reports of the discussion at a recent council meeting of the position of youths from IS to 25 years of age affected by the basic wage requirements, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce has received several letters citing cases in which firms in the city had been forced into the position of having to dispense with the service of youths in cases where such youths wqre unable to earn the basic wage. “As a result of these representations the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, and the Hon. P. C. Webb (Act-ing-Minister of Labour), received a deputation consisting of Messrs. R. H. Nimmo. E. M. Baydsley, secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and L. J. Greenberg, secretary, citizens’ youth employment committee and Y.M.C.A. In addition to representing the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Nimmo represented the citizens’ youth employment committee and Y.M.C.A. as president of these organisations. “In attendant were Messrs. N. L. Xambourne, Director of Education, and H. E. Moston, chief inspector of factories. “The deputation found both Ministers very anxious to hear its report ou the cases in point as well as its suggestions for the amelioration of the situation. “The Acting-Prime Minister stated that the Government, was profoundly impressed with the seriousness of the position from the point of view of the youths affected and expressed himself as animated with the desire to receive the co-operation of the commercial community, and of those organisations interested to assist the Government in finding the solution to this' problem. “Mr. Webb indicated that it had been his intention to call a conference of all interested as soon as possible so that the necessary arrangements could be made, and that after hearing the deputation he was more than ever convinced of the urgency of the situation.” BOYS LEAVING SCHOOL Greater Number Under 17 Than Before Depression Figures to substantiate his statement that there were more boys under 17 leaving school at present than had been the case before the depression were quoted by the headmaster of Wellington College, Mr. W. A. Armour, at the annual meeting of the Boy Employment Committee yesterday. Mr. Armour said he had taken out figures for the' September-December period from 1932 onward. They showed that in 1932. 51 boys under 17 and 74 boys over 17 left the college. In 1933 the figures were 45 and 75; in 1934 they were 04 and SO; in 1935 they were 70 and 62; and in 1936 they were 162 and 47. For December only of 1936 there were 128 under 17 -and only 37 over that age. “I think I can claim to have proved my case right up to the hilt,” said Mr. Armour, who added that he attributed the position to two things—the tremendous demand for boys and the basic wage. The figures he had quoted did not include the boys who had been transferred to other centres. His reason for saying the basic wage was responsible wag that parents who interviewed him about their boys leaving almost invariably said they would like the boy to have another year at school, but another year might prevent him from securing a job because of his age. YOUTHS PENALISED Need For More Flexibility in Legislation EFFECTS OF BASIC WAGE The Wellington Boy Employment Committee decided yesterday to set up a subcommittee to bring down recommendations for submission to the conferences to be held shortly to discuss the apprenticeship system and the employment of youths in general. “It is encouraging to note an awakening interest on the part of the public in the very serious problem affecting the employment of young men in their late teens and early twenties,” stated the committee in a report which was adopted on the motion of the chairman, Mr. R. H. Nimmo. “Many boys who were sixteen and seventeen years of age during the slump period now find themselves without qualification or experience to fit them for any employment which would command the basic wage or'the minimum provided for under the respective awards. Many .if them have suffered discouragement after discouragement in finding doors barred against their entry, employers being naturally reluctant to engage these men at the stipulated rates of pay. This chiefly concerns those of the unskilled, nonmanual type. Reinforcing the ranks of these youth are those who, during the depression years, were placed in vocationless, dead-end employment as boys, and now find themselves being thrown out of work in their late teens or early twe»ties, because employers are unable or unwilling to meet the demands of the adult wage. “In seeking remedies, it is felt that no good can accrue from merely attacking the protective laws of industry, nor in seeking to destroy the provisions of the basic wage. It would appear, however, that the wage minimums as provided under certain awards, and to some extent the basic wage, hinder the absorption of these young men. and something might be done to make the application of these minimums a little less rigid in the case of these younger men who are seeking entry into some sphere of remunerative employment. A Training Course? “Certainly more flexibility is required, at the same time retaining the main safeguards. Something might be done in the wav of providing a course of training which would fit them for some sphere or other. The placing of these young men

on mere sustenance and then leaving them in idleness is to be deplored. This represents not only a loss economically to the country and the young men concerned, but it" also opens the way to moral disintegration. Even with the sustenance payment, these men must feel their present position and the hopelessness of the future. In such a mood they are exposed to those subversive influences which we in New Zealand should neither harbour nor tolerate. “The question arises as to who would undertake this training. Because of their age it is unlikely that either they or prospective employers would be likely to accept the binding conditions of an apprenticeship, although ii is suggested that something further should be done by the Government to encourage the absorption of these young men in forms of employment where they would be likely to learn something of enduring value to them m the future, even if the weekly sustenance payment has to be used as a wage subsidy On the other hand, it mav be possible to arrange with firms who have the equipment and the facilities for such training to undertake the training of these voung men while the trainees continue on sustenance. Ex-servicemen’s rehabilitation schemes, as carried out in many countries during the war. should offer some suggestions along these lines. Under-rate Workers. “Chambers of commerce and of manufacturers may be in a position to suggest to the Government means by which their respective constituencies could co-operate in any Government scheme. One factor should be remembered, and it is that, like in the war emergency, these young men should be treated 'as a special group. They are likely to be of diminishing quantity as they become absorbed in regular employment. Regarded in this light, and ; with a limited number of people to provide for, there should be no fear that any flexibility provided in, the application of the basic rates or any concession made to employers to engage these men, would lead to a breakdown in the standard pro- > visions of the new legislation. * “There is another class of young men * on whose behalf representations for work 1 have proved of no avail. This is the type not quite up to the standard mentally and not physically fit enough for manual 1 toil. Applications for under-rate work--3 ers’ permits in some cases had been de--3 elined. It is a question as to what is co • become of these men who are thus de--1 prived of any means of livelihood. While the Government should do something tc 1 render more flexible the provisions of the e new legislation as applied to the various t classes referred to, at the. same time a r m>re generous attitude might be taken 1 by employers in which they would give ■I these younger men a chance when vacanf cies occur even although they may have r to pay the basic wage. In many cases i these men are willing and keen to learn ? and in a comparatively short period, real 1 ising the urgency of their plight, thej - would, if given the opportunity, fit them' ■ selves for greater spheres of usefulness e Lack of Skilled Labour. “There is another aspect of this prob t Icm.” the report added. “The varioui trades in the Dominion, especially the building trade, are in urgent need. o: t skilled labour. It is quite likely that im migration may have to be resorted to n 0 ord- to meet this need, which is becora g ing so urgent. Such immigration wouk n he a charge on the New Zealand or thi e British Governments, or both. It wouk • seem that the utilisation of moneys.in th, unemployment fund for the training o t our own young men who are out. of em ,f ployment through no fault of their own t or in unsatisfactory positions, should H (■ considered as a partial solution. e “Associated with the whole of thii „ problem, also, is the question of noys pre 7 maturely leaving school owing to the in duceraent of higher wages and the fea that if they remain to complete a cours in secondary school they may find them selves without employment in their eight , eenth or nineteenth year. This is a quec i- tion that needs urgent investigation a e such a situation would not only adverse g ly affect the schools, but would bo detri r mental to the future well-being of ou n boys and young men.”