USEFUL LEISURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 13

USEFUL LEISURE

MEN ON SUSTENANCE AN URGENT PROBLEM SOCIAL WORKERS' VIEWS Social workers in Auckland gave their approval yesterday to the suggestion made editorially in the Herald that the problem of providing useful occupations and interests during the enforced leisure of men 011 sustenance required immediate attention. There was a general agreement that an acute problem existed, one which {ended to become an increasing social danger. The explanation of the systematic and balanced methods adopted in Britain to keep the unemployed physically fit and intellectually alive aroused considerable interest among those closely acquainted with the conditions of the men who are in the position of having to accept whatever the State can provide. Means of maintaining the morale of the less fortunate, such as establishing workshops, cultural societies for lectures, mutual benefit organisations, music and drama societies and clubs and camps, were considered to be of the greatest importance to New Zealand, in view of their proved advantages in Britain. Possibilities In Auckland A feeling was evident that enthusiastic workers would experience no obstacle in providing interests which the Unemployment Board, in its strictly departmental and mechanical way, had neglected to give. It was thought that Auckland had the facilities to give a lead to the Dominion in the form of a movement designed to provide interests to men whose social outlook could easily be warped by hardship and an absence of beneficial contacts with their fellows. The argument that a man placed in the position of complete idleness, relying on sustenance, would eventually become .1 loss to society, was considered especially timely, and one of great significance to Auckland, where a sizeable section of the community, apart from dependants, depends on sustenance. The Auckland city missioner, the Rev. Jasper Calder, said a real social problem had been brought under the notice of the community. There should be a general recognition of the danger of having many men, especially the younger generation, receiving sustenance and not having the opportunity of following their tastes in social interests to their own advantage. Any scheme which would entail giving a man a useful interest would mean a consequent advantage to the community. The subject had not been approached constructively in New Zealand, and an acquaintance with the conditions in many homes in Auckland would show where an-improvement must inevitably follow from the provision of wholesome interests. Benefit to Home Life Mr. Calder saw no difficulty in the way of commencing a course of lectures on "topical subjects, for instance, and he thought an ample number of able lecturers would be prepared to give their services. Discussions of such a kind would tend to give the men a feeling that they were not out of touch "with matters of social importance. The organisation of a choir among the unemployed could also be regarded as one item of any scheme devoted to maintaining social interest among the men. Physical culture classes would certainly be" excellent. The first consideration should be the maintenance of the morale of the men. Sister Esther agreed that any method of maintaining desirable interests among men pending their return to regular employment deserved the closest attention. The home life of the families concerned was a vital question, and giving the men encouraging interests could not fail to have beneficial results. The Rev. T Halliday, of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, said it was necessary to provide interests of the kind suggested. There should be no delay in beginning such a movement. Enforced idleness could lead to accustomed idleness on the part of some men, a dangerous condition in the community. *