SCHOOLBOYS AND WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1931, Page 8

SCHOOLBOYS AND WORK

A VITAL PROBLEM

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Is it not time that the business men of New Zealand awoke to a menace in our midst? For the past year or so the trouble of securing employment for our boys has been steadily becoming harder, and to-day there are many hundreds of lads absolutely unable to make a start in life's work. In England there are boys who have left school, failed to get work, gone on the dole, and in some cases have grown up and married on it. I suppose nothing could happen in this life so calculated to completely undermine a boy's usefulness to himself and his country. Here in New Zealand we should strain every nerve to see that this horrible institution does not get a hold. Now there is one feature in our business circles which I think should afford a considerable measure of relief. When the Great War came our women kind, with the natural pluck that is in them, stepped into the breach and carried on work left undone by men nt the war. This has naturally, to a certain extent, been carried on, but to-day it is, in one direction, causing trouble that may become terribly serious in many cas.es. This calls again for the right spirit of courage in certain of our. young women. In New Zealand to-day there are probably 2000 positions in office; warehouse, and such like filled by young women whose fathers are more or less rich men and could well afford to support them. Let it be clearly understood that I speak only of those young women to whom their earnings are not a matter of vital importance. The money they earn is not wanted in their family circles. . One can well appreciate the spirit of independence that actuates these young women. In the great majority of cases these women will marry. Meanwhile, in the financial depression that now faces the whole world, these young women are definitely preventing a number of young fellows from, making their start in life. Inasmuch as it is impossible to make an appeal that would reach the young women concerned, may I suggest that the Chambers of Commerce and the Rotary .Club give this matter serious consideration in the interests of the some hundreds of lads in New Zealand. Both these bodies are comSosed of the best business brains in the 'ominion. It affords an opportunity for them to show that they can tackle a real problem, and one that to-day is spelling success or ruin to hundreds of promising lads. To my way of thinking this hampering the start of a young man's life is of vital importance to the whole community, and it is up to the business men to come forward and show that they are prepared to do their bit to tackle one of our many problems of these difficult days.—l am, etc., W. G. MORPETH.