UNEMPLOYED BOYS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 109, 10 May 1932, Page 9

UNEMPLOYED BOYS

LOSS OF MORALE

A- SERIOUS- PROBLEM

• The question of juvenile unemployment was raised at the annual conference of the Technical Teachers' Association to-day. The president, Mr. G. G. Haneox, said ho hoped the conference would be. able to lay before the Government a definite plan to assist in relieving the grave situation which, existed to-day in regard to the noneniployment of young people. The depression was a passing phase, but unless an endeavour was made to cope with the juvenile training and employment problem it would moan that many young people would, only have befof.e them entrance to the ranks of unskilled labour. They deserved a better opportunity than that. Th,e matter of ein^. ployment was wrapped, up. with,...the question of free places. Mr. H. A. Jones (Auckland) referred' to the serious deterioration in the moral fibre of many young people of the country owing to the existing '^economic conditions; this remark applied especially to boys who had left school, and who had been out of employment for twelve months or more. Many, of, these "boys become -work-shy, or even unemployable.' ; WHAT IS BEING DONE. Mr. G. M. Keys (Christehureu) outlined what has been done in Christchurch in assisting boys to find employment in certain kinds of work, including farm work. About fifteen boys had been given work on farm land under what were considered.good conditions. In the city, arrangements had been made for evening, continuation classes, which .were well attended. Other special classes,had .also been established. It was most gratifying to find how much capable voluntary help was available for fully and profitably occupying the time of unemployed boys. Since :the Christmas .holidays, 168. boys had been found'jobs. The T.M.C.A. had given material assistance in the^movem'ent. / ~ .'•';..,. Mr. W, B. Harris (Christchureh) also spoke on the excellent work done., by the T.M.C.A. and other helpers ~in Christchurcli in placing boys in jobs. Messrs. H. E. Limbrick - (Timaru) | and G. G. Hancos spoke of what, has been; done in/Timaru and Palmeraton North.- .-■-■■: •. . On the motion of Mr. Vryn , Evans the following Wellington Temit was adopted: "That the executive approach the Government to formulate a scheme to.find employment for young people who have definitely left school and are out of employment." .-.,.' •■. A .committee was appointed to drawup a scheme to find employment for young people, and report to the executive before the conclusion, of the ference. v r •

Other remits Scaling' With unemployment of young people were' adopted and referred to the committee for consideration and report. " '