TO HELP THE BOYS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1931, Page 11

TO HELP THE BOYS

MEOECEB.: IDLENESS:

ACTION BY V.M.C.A

At last Monday's meeting of the' board of directors of the V.M.C.A., pro-' sided over by Mr. H. D. Grocott, con-| I corn was expressed in the reports of | 'the large and apparently increasing number of boys and young men who arc unable to find employment and are not provided for under recent lcgialahave but little data on which they can baso conclusions, they feel nevertheless that such unemployment is moro widespread than . the community realises. The association has actual experience of families who have two and even ■three'boys or younger men who are unemployed. Many of these youths have received secondary or technical education. There are cases in which young men in their.' late teens appeal to the association in ' despair, having folldwed, up without success every clue > which may havo given promise of even the most transient and uncongenial occu- ! pation. I The general secretary of the association, Mr. Len J. Greenberg, in the course of a statement on the position, referred to the moral and psychological aspects, of the problem1 which in his opinion wero even, more serious, than the economic wastage which attended the enforced idleness of so many boys. He added that lengthy unemployment can only seriously discourage a youth "at a time in life when he should have bright hope and a vision of large possibilities. Such a condition must greatly impair his future character,and1 attainments.

In order to open the way for effective action, and with a view to assisting organisations fn securing reliable data on this problem of. boy unemployment, the directors have decided' to extend the normal Boys' Work Department of the V.M.C.A. in the direction of ascertaining, as far as possible, the extent of youth unemployment in Wellington. To this end1 unemployed boys and youths', up to'thc age of 20, are requested to personally call.at the V.M.C.A., 150, WiUis street, and furnish the necessary particulars. Consideration will be given .to each individual case, but it must be strictly understood that .the association gives no promise that employment can be found, although every endeavour will be made to do so.

The association is giving attention to finding congenial interests and useful means of occupying the timo of youths whilst awaiting employment. Fuller particulars will bo announced in a few days.

The proposed scheme will be influenced by future developments. In the meantime the association invites the co-operation and goodwill of those interested in the welfare of youth.