TOO MUCH OPTIMISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21279, 5 September 1932, Page 6

TOO MUCH OPTIMISM

ADVENTUROUS MEN ■ • WORKING PASSAGES HOME NO EMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN 7 [TROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] '!/ "• LONDON. .Tuly 2S Shipping companies trading with New Zealand are in the position to carry a larger lioirievrard crew than that necessary on the outward voyage. It is possible, therefore, for adventurous young riven to work their passages to England, but they are required to sign an undertaking that they will not rail upon tho shipping company to repatriate them. A number of men have thus worked their passages in the hope of obtaining employment in England. Some of them arrive with money enough to keep them only for a few weeks, out with great ■confidence in their powers of persuading employers to accept their services. They find no work and their money rapidly / disappears. More often than not. they look to (lie High Commissioner's Office to help them in their difficulty. They can only be told that there is no work to he. found. In the end, these young men are forced to isk for financial aid from generous New Zealanders who hold positions in linden. What becomes of some of them eventually it is difficult to say. One man with professional experience has been driven lately to apply for a position in Russia. Even if he gets it his pay will probably' be useless outside Russia, and his ability to get out of the country again is a matter of .uncertainty. High Commissioner's Advice The Salvation Army often come to the aid of the High Commissioner's Office end provide men with beds for a night or two. Jhere have been cases where men drift into crime. The High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford, sends a request from Geneva that publicity should be given t<> deter young men working their way Home in the expectation. of finding work in England. ' -To day, again," the High Commissioner Writes, "I have received a letter while at Geneva telling rne that a young man who has worked his way Home and who has enough money to keep himself for six weeks, requires employment. Even if I "'was back in England I could not find it for him. and while here, of course, one" can only ask all the Office staff in touch with employers to do their best for him. You can see the sad risk the young " man' is'taking but, unfortunately, he cannot see it. Will you help me as far as jies in your power to put- an end to this foolishness for it may end in tragedy. Air Force Commissions A word of warning should also be given to young men who come Home to obtain • short service commissions in the Roval Air Force. It. appears that not every man makes the fullest inquiries befm-e leaving New Zealand. ■ A case in point • is that of a New Zealander who has actually arrived here without knowing that the age limit for obtaining these commissions' is 22. Last year it was 25. The applicant, who is 24 years of age. may have an opportunity of getting into another branch of tho service, but he . •would ■ have saved himself a great deal of disappointment, if be had made more exhaustive inquiries before he left New Zealand, for the new regulations were available in the Dominion before he left. Others are over optimistic and thtnk their, appointments will go through in a very short time. They sometimes find they months to wait and their finances are atrainecj.