Most Acute Human Problem of Generation

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7037, 22 December 1932, Page 7

Most Acute Human Problem of Generation

Finding Work for Unemployed Boys Must Go on the Land Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tiic conclusions reached by Messrs A. E. Anscll, M.P. for Chalmers, and JB. G. Smith, M.P. for Now Plymouth, as the result of their recent investigation of the juvenile unemployment problem arc contained in a comprehensive report which they hnvo prepared dealing with many phases of the subject. The report has already been submitted to Cabinet and a precis of it together with the recommendations made was released to-day.

activities. Working in close association with the general council should be an executive committee consisting of the convenors of sub-committees which should undertake special duties. The activities of the sub-committees should cover: (I; Physical development. (2) General educational development. (3) Vocational and pre-vocational development. (4) Athletic development. (5) Social development.

After pointing out that secondary industries offered slender chances for the absorption of boys the committee considers agriculture offers the most promising field for the employment of young men and a land settlement scheme is recommended whereby Crown land would be developed by suitable young men who would ultimately become settlers. During its investigations the committee noted the very definite aversion of the average boy to take up fanning pursuits. In discussiug the educational bias which has led boys away from tho land the committee mentions that wheroas languages and mathematics in the senior free place examination enabled the candidate to receivo 400 marks ror each subject, the maximum marks for chemistry, botany and agriculture were only 200. It is suggested that tho latter should carry tho same pass marks as language subjects. “We are convinced that this problem is one of the most vital facing the people of New Zealand to-day and is in fact the most, acute human problem with which this generation has been called upon to deal,’’ state Messrs Snath and Ansell after expressing high appreciation of the public-spirited effort which has already led to a measure of success. They give figures indicating what has already been done and the extent of the remaining problem. These figures show that the boys registered as unemployed total 5905, of this number 2850 have been placed in employment, the classification being as follows: —

“An especially distressing feature of tho problem,’’ states tho committee, “is tho largo number of apprentices who have uncompleted poriods of fcpprcnticoship contracts and who arc now unemployed for reasons either that there is no work or training in shops or factories whero they were employed or their employers, either individuals or firms, have gono out of business on account of tho general trade depression.’’ It is pointed out that unless a remedy is found a most serious condition will arise when trade becomes normal and the demand for skilled men increases because skilled men will then have to be imported. Por unskilled workers the normal solution is work, but if there is none available a substitute must be found. Technical training can provide a stepping stone to regular employment when industry revives. Tho country may not at present bo able to employ these boys but it can still less afford to let them drift. A careful investigation of the opportunities for boys in town occupations was mado by tho committee who declare that at no time in the history of New Zealand had commerce and industry offered such slender chances for the absorption of boys on completing their school life. The committee stresses tho importance of land occupations in view of New Zealand’s almost complote financial dependence on returns from the exported products of tho land. Various organisations working for the welfare of worluess boys have been able to place a number of boys on farms, but it is considered something further should be done for them in order that they might ultimately become established as farmers rather than Temain farm workers. Tho time has arrived for evolving a definite land settlement schorne waeroby young men who have completed their course at an agricultural college or agricultural high school and have obtained a certificate of approv&r from such colleges or schools and who have worked for a poriod of less than two years on a farm or station and have shown by their diligence and competency that they will provo to be efficient farmers shall be given every encouragement and facility to make good and ultimately become farmers themselves instead of remaining farm workors or seeking other avenues of employment. Such a scheme would be the means of placing on the land tho most desirable and efficient type of farmer and would provo an incentive to boys to enter an agricultural life, thus ultimately creating a national asset which could not be too highly assessed.

Placed on farms .. .. .. .. 'JIVJS Placed in trade 421 Placed in shops and offices .. 593 Miscellaneous G 44 This leaves a total of 3044 still on the unemployed roll. “These unemployed boys are the nation's greatest asset and the responsibility for dealing with this problem is ono which concerns every citizen. It is not a task that can or should be borne by tho Government, but is one that essentially attaches itself outside tho parent to local organisations and individual citizens. As a result of our inquiries we are convinced that an organised committee of citizens (representative of every walk in life) in various centres can deal most effectively with the problem. There is no comparable substitute.’’ The report recommends that in each centre where the problem exists there should be established a general council representing tho citizens and representative of all interests and dealing with matters of policy and extension of