UNEMPLOYED BOYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 16

UNEMPLOYED BOYS

AUCKLAND COMMITTEE EXTENDING ACTIVITIES LARGE-SCALE PROPOSALS Proposals which it is considered will go far toward helping to (leal with the acute problem of juvenile unemployment were adopted by the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee yesterday. It was stated that much could be dona by personal contact in getting eligible youths placed in suitable positions both in the city and country, but it was necessary that there should be a reliable record of the numbers to be dealt with in order that a long-term programme might be devised. Plans were also discussed for extending the services of the committee by which young men of over 20 years of age might be assisted to take up country positions.

It was reported by the secretary, Mr. N. G. Gribble, that since its inception the committee had placed 1235 boys with country employers, and 1010 in city positions, a total of 2245. In addition, some 300 boys had been through a selective course at St. John's farm, Meadowbank, passing in most cases to farm positions. Evidence of the confidence established among country employers was found in the fact that the total applications from country employers had always exceeded the number of boys available. The contributions received by the committee totalled £2750, and no public) appeal for funds had been made since the end of 1932. This money, together with the most valuable aid given by the St. John's College Trust Board, had enabled 2300 lads to obtain assistance and had brought relief and hope to thousands,, of hard-pressed parents. In mentioning the need for further money to carry out the work, the secretary said there was only about £3OO in hand and the present monthly average expenditure was about £IOO. In view of the proposals to extend the work of the committee, arrangements were made to ascertain the number and probable destinations of boys who had left the primary schools from the end of 1932 to the present time. It was also decided to seek the permission of the Education Board to - obtain monthly returns of boys leaving the schools, and that means bo taken through the newspapers, addresses in schools, and appeals to churches and other organisations to make it known that the committee is endeavouring to get reliable data on which to base comprehensive proposals for a long-term programme to deal with juvenile unemployment. Tho chairman, Sir Joseph Smith, said information could also bo secured from the secondary schools. He had assurances from tho Mayor of .Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and tho leaders of other organisations that the committee could expect every assistance in this work, while the local officers of tho Unemployment Board had indicated that the board could bo relied upon to assist.