UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 10

UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

Needed in Secondary Industries MINISTER’S DESIRE Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, August 5. The serious problem of unemployment among youths between the ages of 18 and 25 was referred to by the Acting-Minister of Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb, when speaking at a conference of local bodies and other representatives in Wanganui to-day. The Minister said that in New Zealand 5000 of these young men, through the depression, had lost the opportunities of learning trades. In 1928 there were 10,000 apprentices in the Dominion, but in 1933 there were fewer than 3000. The Government was now making an endeavour to return the young men to industries, and the Minister emphasised that 6000 apprentices were now registered. He considered that at the present rate of progress a record would probably be established by the end of the year. “The responsibility rests on our shoulders to try and get these young men back into industries and to help them to learn trades and professions now,” said the Minister. “We do not want a great army of public works employees building roads and bridges. We want to develop our secondary industries and employ our own labour. It is not too late to help those young fellows whose careers were spoilt by the depression if we have the courage to get on with the job and teach them their trades. The Government is trying to evolve a scheme whereby it hopes to train and restore the opportunities previously lost.” The Minister said that if a further 1000 carpenters and tradesmen were available they could be placed in work within a month. He considered it a crime the way young men had been treated.