YOUTH WELFARE IN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 6

YOUTH WELFARE IN INDUSTRY

Vocational Training PLANS FOR OTHER THAN APPRENTICES Described by members as “revolutionary” and ‘•ft very big step,” a scheme for the systematic and controlled vocational training of young persons in the form of employment not covered by apprenticeship regulations is advocated in a special report prepared by the Boys Employment Committee of the Christchurch Youth Centre. The report was approved ata meeting of the committee for submission to the Ministers of Education and Labour, the two departments, and, among other Canterbury bodies, the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association, Federation of Labour, Education Board, Technical College Board and Educational Institute. The report will be submitted to these bodies so that the views of the committee may be made generally known. Considering that a broader view should be taken of youth welfare in industry, the committee urges the adoption of a number of principles in the event of any prospective change in legislation applying to young persons in industry. Au important suggestion in the report is that urging the raising of the school leaving age to at least 15 years. Ihe report is as follows: — Broader View Wanted. ‘‘This committee, while agreeing with the general desirability of improving conditions of apprenticeship, is of the opinion that a much broader view of youth welfare in industry should be taken in relation to any prospective change in legislation applying to young persons at work. Those securing apprenticeships represent only a minority of the young people entering work each year. In 1937, the E.l report of the Department of Education showed that there were 2742 boys who left school for farm employment and 7251 ’boys who left for other forms of• employment—a total of 9993 school leavers. Reports of the Department of Labour stated that the demand for apprentices in normal years is estimated to be 2000 a year. ‘‘The committee therefore puts forward these facts:

“(1) That approximately only onefifth of boys lea_ving school for work subsequently enter apprenticeship employment. “(2) That employers who engage apprentices are carrying a substantial responsibility in the community for postschool vocational training. ‘‘(3) That in forms of employment not covered by apprenticeship regulations there is no provision by which employers are required to give young people a systematic and controlled vocational training.

“(4) That, though many employers do in fact undertake such an obligation to non-apprenticed young people, there are many other employers who neglect to do so. No Statutory Obligation. “The committee has particularly in mind the large number of boys-enter-ing factories and workshops, who are capable of broad vocational training which would make them more adaptable and more efficient workmen whatever employment they might later engage upon, but toward whom an employer has at present no such statutory obligation and in many cases makes no contribution in this direction. “The committee urges that the need for some measure of vocational training for non-apprenticeship boys be provided for in any legislation introduced to promote the welfare of young people at work. It considers that such training would spread the responsibility of employers more equitably by. requiring all employers (and not just employers of apprentices) to give boys a broad and useful training of a reasonably systematic kind. In cases where an approved training of a reasonably systematic kind is not provided in the place of work, boys should be sent to a school or other institution to receive education and vocational training, and that for each hour of his own time a boy devotes to such training an employer should allow a proportionate amount of -working time on pay for attendance at such institutions.

School Leaving Age.

“The committee is strongly of the opinion that the school leaving age should be raised at the earliest possible date to at least 15 years, and that provision should be made to ensure that boys and girls who gain the primary leaving certificate before reaching the statutory minimum leaving age shall continue their education as whole ■time pupils until that age has been reached.” Supporting the need for some move as outlined in the report, the chairman, Dr. H. E. Field, said that too many obligations were being placed'on the employers of apprentices, and the employers of non-apprentices were not doing very much toward the vocational training of their young workers. “This scheme is inclined to be revolutionary, and is a very big 1 step,” said Mr. F. W. Moore. “Do the young people want this training?” Dr. Field suggested that the scheme was “evolutionary” rather than “revolutionary.” It had to be admitted that there had been no demand either from young people or employers, but the committee felt that it was nonetheless important and worthwhile. “Everything that is worthwhile was at one time revolutionary,” commented Mr. F. E. S. Long. Tlie secretary of the Youth Centre, Mr. N. S. Woods, said that at least one in every two young persons could not reach adult status in the industry in which he began work. This was a strong argument in favour of the provision of adequate training where it was not now available. “We do not wish to penalize people who are employing a large amount of juvenile and cheap labour, but consider these employers should have some share in the training of the young people,” added Ur. Field. The report was adopted.