WORKLESS YOUTHS

Northern Advocate, 9 June 1933, Page 2

WORKLESS YOUTHS

> IMPOSSIBLE TO PLACE THEM. A KNOTTY PROBLEM. APPEAL TO EMPLOYERS. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) WEELINC TO N, Th n rsday. Today there arc 584 lads, between the ages of 15 and 20, registered with the Wellington Citizens’ Boys’ Employment Committee, and waiting for work. The age group with which the committee is having most difficnlly is that which comprises youths between bs and 20. It lias been found practically impossible to place them. There arc on the committee looks the names of 70 matriculated .lads, whoso parents. ; n some cases, have gone from door to door in the business areas of the city, trying without success to place then; in work. In a number of these cases, the boys passed the matriculation examination two years ago, and have done no work at all since. A sub-commit-tee has been appointed to make a personal appeal to prospective employers in the hope of reducing the numbers of waiting lads for a chance to prove themselves. SineJanuary 1 the committee had made 48‘.) placements, of which but. 125 are in permanent positions. The committee is developing its work in connection with farm placements, which so far tills year are well below the total of the corresponding period last year. During the past month only seven positions have been found for boys on farms. With a view to the opening othe coming dairy season, however, Hie committee wants to hear from boys particularly older ones who have had experience aaul are willing f 0 go to the country. There is hardly any disposi tion on the part of the 'Wellington boys to go on farms, but the committee’s experience is that, once a city lov settles clown and is provided with a home, and the working conditions ,-ire satisfactory, he will remain on the land. The great majority of those placed on farms are still there. During the next few weeks, a followup scheme for boys on farms will he carried out, each boy being visited Iha member of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, who will report later to the committee. Since the inception of its work last year, the committee has placed 360 boys on farms, and the number to date this year is 88. Numerous applications have been received for the services of boys on a commission basis. The committee does not encourage this sort of work, being of opinion that it is far better that bojs should be placed in positions which offer immediate remuneration, and give some prospect for the future.