WORKLESS YOUTHS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 9

WORKLESS YOUTHS

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

NEW ASSISTANCE SCHEME

An attempt to include in the duties of the Unemployment Board the arranging or providing of work for youths under twenty years of age and women not liable to pay the general unemployment levy was made by the Labour Party in the House of Representatives to-dny during the doinmittee stage of the Unemployment Amendment Bill. Mr. H. T. Armstrong.(Labour, Christchurch Bast), .the mover of an amendment to. that effect, said that it was so reasonable and desirable that thiye should be little opposition to it. Youths under twenty would have the wage tax deducted, but'they would not bo eligible for benefits undor the Bill. One of the most serious problems confronting the- Dominion at present was the finding of employment for children leav>ing school, and, if they wore to be taxed, they should have a right to assistance from the board. The Minister of Labour (the Hon. S. G. Smith): "We have- done a great deal for youths, although not all we would have liked to do." ; ' Mr. Armstrong said he had no doubt that the board. had done its best in the circumstances. A . great deal was done for boys, from overseas, and many New Zealand lads would ,be glad of the same oportunities as those enjoyed by Flock House boys. , The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H.B. Holland) said the only employrncnii the board could provide for boys was under the No. 4 scheme, and that depended on employers in industry^ He referred especially to the case of married men under 20 years of age who could not get work undea1 the No. 5 scheme. ' . AMENDMENT NOT NEEDED, Mr. .Smith said that there was no need (for the amendment; there was already power under the Act to do what the amendment suggested. He stated that 1450 married men under 20 years of age were employed :under the 4a scheme. The board how proposed to go further. One stationholder had offered to take twelve boys between 16 and IS■-. years of age and teach them farming. '.'.-," t Mr. Holland: "At what wages 1 Mr. Smith said the board recognised that once it acceded to such a request it would have to face applications from all over the Dominion, and in order.to enable that to be met, finance must be made available. The 4a scheme would terminate on 31st August, and another scheme was in preparation, to take its place, subject to money being provided as'was being done under the Bill. Mr. Holland urged the Government to give an assurance that in every case work would be found for married youths on the same scale as married men; 10s or 15s a, week was not enough to enable a home to be kept together. Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central) said it was a terrible thing for young men to grow up not to work, but to be'unemployed.. It was demoralising. The problem had to be dealt with, and he would like to know what the Minister proposed to do. . •. < . ; : Mr. W. Nash (Labour, Hutt) said that if the Minister would assure the House that the Unemployment Board would evolvo some scheme, by which boys between 16 and 20 years would be taught farm work, then they would be so much further on. The amendment would help rather thaw, hinder the Hoard.-.'- .-'■ '■:■■■:.; ■■■ "■ -'. .:'.-,-, "-W / TJie'amendment was negatived by -II votes to 25. -.1 ; V ,