“UNWANTED YOUTH” PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 22722, 9 August 1937, Page 13

“UNWANTED YOUTH” PROBLEM

EMPLOYER FORESEES RECURRENCE

[Per United Press Association.]

HAWERA, August 7. The contention that th© Shops and Offices Act by providing a minimum of 15s a week with half-yearly increases of 4s for office juniors and message boys was opposed to th© best interests of the employees was made by the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, which decided to circularise a resolution of protest to all chambers of commerce and manufacturers’ associations, and. to forward a remit on the subject to the annual conference of Associated Chambers. It was pointed out that one ill-effect of the law was that an employer was deterred from paying above the minimum by reason of the fact that the half-yearly increase had to bo added to tho actual wage paid. As a result, many juniors had to wait for th© expiry of six or 12 months before receiving extra remuneration. Another ill-effect, it was contended, was that when it became uneconomic to employ a message hoy there was no alternative but to dismiss him. • As future employers had to take into account a boy’s pievious experience, it was felt that aho Dominion was soon going to be faced with another “unwanted youth” problem.