CAREERS ON LEAVING SCHOOL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 June 1927, Page 3

CAREERS ON LEAVING SCHOOL

•To _t.be Editor', Sir, —'"Critic's" letter in last night's "Mail" calls for some notice. [Te states the position very accurately as regards boys waiting to (Miter trades, and to the effects of the restrictive measures imposed by the Arbitration Court. lint the trouble is not entirely due. io this. Even the boys themselves are partly to blame for their lack of interest, and certainly many are lacking in thai, often wrongly condemned quality of persistency. Employers, too. are at fault for their short-sighted policy of refusing to take, on a.s many boys as they possibly could owing to the alleged trouble of training them, and in fulfilling the conditions imposed by the awards and by the unions. Further, for not stating their requirements as regards boys and informing either the Vocational Guidance Committee or the Labour Department of their needs. This lack of cooperation on the. part of berth employers and boys greatly restricts the useful activity of this committee.

This week the committee has had openings for three boys, two of which would probably lead to quite good positions, but we could only lay our hands on one boy, no others suitable having kept in touch with us. If boys who are unemployed, or are in so-called i "blind alley" jbos, would get the habit I .if making a short written application I st.iling ihoii needs, to the ijoys' VoI cutiunul Guidance Committee (Hon. Sec. i Air Ross, Department of Labour) at least ; once a month to keep his case in view, they would at least have a. better chance of getting what they require. Perhaps not in the first rttfmth, but possibly something would turn up to suit them before long. Many boys on the list get jobs themselves, but very few call .to get their names crossed off tlie list of those seeking employment. It is a duty incumbent upon all good citizens to help in this matter, and we expect employers to let us know their requirements or these in prospect, so' that, all may reap the. benefit; good employers' for good boys, and good b'oys for good employers. Given a fair chance, in my opinion, after long association, 98 per cent, of boys will turn out well, but 'they need helpful and sympathetic' handling. The B.V.G. Committee lias already Tendered valuable service to the. community and, given the support indicated above, could double its activities to the greater good of all concerned. — J am, etc.. F.W.H. Nelson, Bth June.