EMPLOYMENT FOR BOYS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 269, 13 October 1932, Page 6

EMPLOYMENT FOR BOYS.

PRESENT DAY PROBLEM.

FEELDING HIGH SCHOOL EFFORT

Acting on a suggestion made by the principal. Mr L. J. Wild, M.A., B.hc., the Feilding Agricultural High School Board of Managers last nigrt set up a sub-committee of the board to act with Mr Wild and representatives _of other local committees in the direction of finding employment for boys leaving school. “So far as I know," said Mr WSd in introducing the subject to the board, “ail pupils who left school at the end of the second term have obtained positions—most of them at home or on rarms. However." he went on.

! “the problem which at the present time is giving schoolmasters most concern is that of seeing so many qualified pupils leaving without employment, Since, though, the actual business of finding positions is not the primary concern of the schoolmaster, I suggest the advisability of forming a local committee comprising representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, and other associations of employers as well as the A. and P. Association and the Farmers’ Union. This has been done in large centres and much good has resulted. It- is recognised that- the demand for recruits' in business and commerce in Feiiding is limited; on the other hand, I can say at ooce that as far as openings on farms are concerned I have so far been unable to find boys for all the positions offered. However, an organised committee might collect useful information as to supply and demand in various classes of occupations and keep a register of applicants for positions, not only from among pupils at present- at our school, but from among those finally leaving from the primary schools this year, and from among young people already out of school and not in employment! The bad effect of unemployment on people, and particularly on young people, "has been emphasised since the dawn of human history and needs no elaboration now; and anything that raj» be done to alleviate the position should be done.”

Tee chairman, ilr Jas. Knight, considered that ilr Wild had touched a vital point in his observations was emphatic that the setting un of the committee would do good. ~Mr Knight went on to give an outline of the_ remarks made at the conference of the Technical Education Association, where the subject of employtor boys had been one of the prominent issues. Mr Knight moved that Mr Wild’s suggestion be acted upon, this being agreed to, and a committee comprising Messrs J. Knight. L. J. Wild and J. S. Tingey was set np to work in conjunction 'with the other bodies mentioned by ilr Wild, which are to be invited to apooin* delegates in this regard.