UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 11

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

BOYS WITHOUT WORK % PROVISION FOR TRAINING OFFER BY TECHNICAL COLLEGE The provision of vocational training for unemployed youths was considered by the education sub-committee of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee at its first meeting, when Mr. T. U. Wells was elected chairman and Mr. G. J. Park secretary. Ifc was reported that 150 applications had been received from boys desirous of taking educational classes and it was decided, subject to the consent of the main committee, to invite financial assistance for its educational proposals and to ask the main committee to hand over to the Auckland Education Board £SOO to meet the requirements for the remainder of the current year. It was felt that the Education Board would in all probability administer the funds provided for educational purposes free of all charges for administration. It was reported that the Seddon Memorial Technical College Board had offered to provide accommodation, equipment and materials for 230 boys attending full-time instruction in carpentry and joinery, cabinetmaking, engineering, motor engineering, printing, painting and decorating, plumbing and sheet-metal work, electrical engineering and wireless. The committee decided to thank the board for its generous offer, and in view of the fact that the number of applications was in excess of that accommodation it was decided to inquire from the Education Board whether accommodation could be provided for metalwork classes at any of the manual training centres attached to the primary or junior high schools. HELP AT DEVONPOBT. INCREASE IN ACTIVITIES. The number of applications for assistance received by the Devonport Welfare Association showed a great increase in July. The work of the association has been doubled, but its system enables it to cope with the heavy demands The Borough Council has land available for 17 garden plots, while the association has received the use of a block, already cultivated, from the Rugby League. Several owners of private sections have offered allotments. The fuel supply is becoming a problem, the weekly orders for firewood having increased to 64. Boot repairing increased so much during the month that another bootmaker had to be secured. For some time the association has been supplying boots and other new articles at below cost price. The association is making arrangements for an entertainment by the Blind Institute. A concert arranged by Madame Humphrey-Steward in aid of the funds was a great success, and a special football match is being arranged. The recently-opened workroom at the depot is kept busy. During the month the association has found employment for several youths and women, and a large number of girls. Only three seeking employment now remain on the books. Through the Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, and the management of the Victoria Picture Theatre, 200 free passes have been received.

POSITION HI HAMILTON COMBINED COMMITTEE'S WORK [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday The statement that the employment of youth problem was not as serious in Hamilton as in tho main centres was made at a conference of representative citizens and Messrs. S. G. Smith and A. E, Ausell, M.P.'s, in Hamilton to-day. The steps taken by the Hamilton combined committee to find work for the boys and to teach trades to those who had not been placed were mentioned. It was stated that thdre were more positions for boys up to 16 years of age available on farms than there were applicants. A suggestion was made that the Apprentices Act should bo modified to enable a greater ratio of apprentices to journevmen to be employed at trades. Messrs. Smith and Ansell were asked to arrange with the Government to supply tho Hamilton "committee with carpentering and gardening tools for the use of youths for whom regular employment had :iot been found. Since the opening of the Hamilton Y.M.C.A. labour bureau for unemployed youths last October 133 applicants have been placed in positions. Fourteen youths were found permanent jobs in July and two were placed to-day. A carpenter's shop has been opened and classes are held daily under tho supervision of a trained carpenter, who is paid by the Unemployment Board. The boys are making wheelbarrows and step-ladders and other saleable articles. The boys are also to be taught bootmaking and gardening. ALLOCATION AT WAIHI INCREASE TO BE URGED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] "WAIHI, Monday That unemployment had increased and the allocation had been reduced was the complaint made to tho Mayor, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, by a deputation from the Waihi Relief Workers' Association this morning. It was stated that, as a result, the men had been left with practically only two days' work a week, which meant that married men were finding it impossible to make ends meet. Mr. Wallnutt said he would make representations to the acting-Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, on the position, and would urge that the allocations be increased to give married men full-time work for threo weeks in the month.