UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 July 1932, Page 2

UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

FARM WORK POPULAR. [per press association.] AUCKLAND, July 27. Preliminary results of their investigations on behalf of the Government, into the problem of unemployment among youths were reviewed to-day by Mr Ansell and Mr Smith, M.’sP. They said that they had- everywhere encountered a keen desire for the formation of district committees and willingness to follow any lead given. Both at Chr|stchurch and Dunedin, effective organisations existed, and the Christchurch Committee’s task was placing boys on farms. That scheme .had proved more popular in Canterbury than anywhere else and 54 boys had been placed on farms in five months. In Dunedin a hundred boys had intimated their willingeness for farm work. In Invercargill 45 boys had been placed, and in Wellington 75 boys were placed, at Gisborne 50, At New Plymouth, as a temporary expedient, a co-operative kindling wood enterprise and message bureau had been established. The members expressed the opinion that with the incentive they were endeavouring to provide, mainly in regard to a limited course of scientific agricultural education, the farm work scheme was likely to be cpnsiderably extended within the near future. The evidence collected so far would show that a city youth could be rapidly turned into a successful help on a farm. The idea was that for two months in the dead -season of the year boys from farms should receive training at ■ the Agricultural College. Already Lincoln College was going to take fifty such boys.

The meinbers said that when they asked city employers to engage more boys, though willing, the employers were hampered by the Apprentice Act, Factories’ Act and Shops and Offices Act, and that these laws should be modified. The members were anxious to obtain concrete evidence for and against this proposal. Steps are being taken to explore the possibility of creating work suitable for youths, including manufacturing such articles as school rulers, of which eight thousand were used weekly. A committee in Christchurch was inquiring into the possible extension of this idea. So far there has been a most satisfactory response by the public to the members’ efforts.

GREYMOUTH UNEMPLOYED.

[to the editor.]

Sir, —For the enlightenment of “Not a Bush Lawyer” may I state that the similarity between Adam and our “hard-up friend” is this: They were tempted and they fell. Is that simple enough for you N.A.8.L.? Furthermore, my reference to the money earned by running the dances, did not in elude other monies received by the Mayor. It seems to me that you, N.A.B.L. are more concerned with your loss of say l-150th of 5/-,' and 1-150 of 12/6. I quite expect you’ll ask what I’m talking about as I cannot see a one-way mind like yours solving the above. However, the reference is to your share of extra day’s work and the 5/- our hard-up friend got away with. I also am a union man of 21 years’ membership, and I am not by any stretch of imagination a Communist, as you are no doubt well aware. As - regards those men I spoke up for, well my friend “fair play is a jewel” and your tactics are not rubies. The remainder of your letter dealing with the “drunk” 'was merely muck-raking. Now N.A.8.L.. try and pull for the collective good of the unemployed, and take my tip, which is this: That you do no good for yourself or the unemployed by an-

nonymously attacking individuals through the press. I thank you, MiEditor, for privileges granted. I am etc., ALFRED SMITH, Vice-President Greymouth U.W.M.