YOUTH AND BASIC WAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 10

YOUTH AND BASIC WAGE

Not unlike the returned soldier problem, die problem of the youdi of 18 to 23 years is capable of being met in a spirit of compromise, if die legislative and administrative machinery is sufficiently flexible. In the one case, the War dislocated die civic life training of the young soldier; in die otiber case, the slump has dislocated the apprenticeship (using this .word in its widest sense, not merely legal sense) of the youdi who, by die accident of birdi, is now aged approximately 18 to 23. Interruption of die training or apprenticeship! age, by war or depression, means that die trainee or apprentice is likely to be less qualified at a given age than he would have been at that age if diere had been no war and no depression. If, at a given age, the employer is compelled by legislation and by award to pay an adult wage which he feels is not being earned, the employer may hesitate to employ such youdis or to maintain them in employment. There is thus direct trouble in the case of apprenticeships and of award-ruled trades where the basic wage applies. But die problem is wider than that. Trades or occupations that are not now under awards may be brought under them; and as employers generally are under some apprehension that, in one way or another, the 18----23 years old boy will become entitled to a wage in excess of his qualifications, such boys find it difficult to secure employment. The ordinary difficulties which Nature and circumstance impose on die delayed trainee cannot be altered, and they are enough for him to bear. But the legislative difficulties (including a fixed wage at a fixed age) can be altered by compromise; and it is very satisfactory to see diat the trade unions take a broad human view of this situation, and support die Minister of Labour in his intention to exempt indentured apprentices from automatically coming under the principles of the basic wage at the age of 21. But the boys who are affected are not only diose indentured or seeking to be indentured, but boys who are seeking employment in other avenues, where perhaps no award exists at present, and where the starting age of youth preferably later than sixteen. If die trade unions and die Government and the employers could agree in principle to an extension 'of the relief promised by die Minister to the indentured—an extension whereby die employers could be freed from the fear of an automatic basic wage for die insufficient-ly-trained youth, and could dius employ more freely—still wider benefit might ensue. It is good that the principle of compromise is recognised both by industrial Labour and by political Labour. Its wider extension would employ boys now idle, and would keep others in employment. Their appeal is a non-party appeal.