WORKLESS YOUTHS

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1932, Page 5

WORKLESS YOUTHS

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS VOCATIONAL TRAINING. FARMING ALLOTMENTS. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) ... . WELLINGTON, This Gay. A number of constructive suggestions for coping with the problem of unemployment among boys are included in the long report submitted to the Government by -Messrs A. E. Anseli. M.P. (Chalmers) and S. G. Smith, (New Plymouth), formerly Minister; pt Labour, .who, a.t, the request ; M dim Government, undertook'.a complete- ini vestigation of the position. The report, which will show that,-in ; spite of the black outlook for farming at. the moment, the committee strongly believes that openings for New Zealand youths are mainly to be found on the land. The principal recommendation, consequently, is .that, in addition ±q organising •arrangements fpr 'pja& iug town boys with - farmers under the friendly supervision of voluntary workers, the Government should provide areas of undeveloped land to be improved by boys who have already, by lancL experience and agri cultural education, shown promise of becoming successful farmers: They would be placed on these areas, paid- si sustenance wage while carrying out im-r provenients, and ultimately be given a right to acquire a .section. The committee is of opinion that, with_inte'nsive working and the application 'of scientific methods, the allotments' need not exceed 75 acres. ’

Something has also to be. done, in the committee’s opinion, to provide specialised farm training for sons of farmers who are unable to acquire it under present, difficult circumstances. They could be specially trained to take un important "side lines,” such as pigraising and certificated seed production on their parents’ farms. After describing the great difficulty in maintaining the apprenticeship system, the committee stresses the ; point that, unless New Zealand youths- 'are trained in craftsmanship, they will Im the unskilled labourers of tlie future', and that in-normal times it will bo necessary to import skilled artisans. This danger should, they consider, bo avoided by a future extension of vocational training in the technical schools, with a recognition of the .time in the apprenticeship period. Emphasising that there is no comparable substitute for the splendid voluntary work already being done in coping with the boys unemployment problem, the committee recommends an extension of the existing organisations, with a local executive generally to direct the work, and they'make a strong appeal to public-spirited citizens to take a hand in what, they declare to -be. the most acute human problem - with which this generation has been called upon to deni. : : GENERAL PROBLEM.

EASING THE TENSION., : .

INTERNAL LOAN FAVOURED

(Special to "Northern Advocate,")

AUCKLAND, This. Day.

The Mayor, Mr G. W. Hutchison, on his return today from Wellington, where he discussed with the Unemployment Board the Auckland City Council’s scheme to provide constructive work for the unemployed at current wage rates, said: “It seems to mo that the problem has resolvody itself : ih_tp two major considerations. .Eithcrdstin more taxation will need to be .imposed to provide the necessary funds to able more adequate rates .to be paid for unemployment work, or the Gofbrrfment must go to the country.fprUan? internal loan for the resumption of both national and local public works of ah essential nature, the interest and sinking fund to come out of unemployment taxation.?’ V.

As taxation has reached the limit, he thought the loan proposal should’ bo considered. Resumption of usefuidvork would react for the benefit of the whplc community. For this reason he heartily disagreed. with the recommendation by the Economy Committee that future capital works must be, parried on out of. revenue. . .V.V