TOO OLD AT THIRTY-FIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22504, 22 August 1936, Page 12

TOO OLD AT THIRTY-FIVE

Further evidence of Britain's steady recovery is offered this morning in returns showing the increase in retail trade and factory capacity and output. A month ago the Times took occasion to remark that the pace of recovery could best be measured by the fact that there were 440,000 in ore persons employed in June this year than in June of last year. Impressive <*is is this improvement, there is one feature that is giving the British authorities concern. It has been noted in a general sort of way that the older men, once thrown out of work, do not easily secure new jobs. Too old at forty has been the popular conception of this difficulty, but the British Ministry of Labour, in its detailed study of the problem, sets the dividing line at 35 yearn. Its return, na published this morning, shows that those unemployed over 35 have a smaller chance of re-engagement than the younger men. The latter comprise a decreasing proportion of the number out of work. From this it is plain that the fear of older men is no idle one—the fear that losing one job means the loss of all chance of further employment. That is a gnawing anxiety to add to the ordinary hazards of a working life. In considering the position, the Times finds that to some extent industrial legislation is a contributory cause, so that some firms now inako it a rule not to engage employees over .'35. Youth is preferred, and at present there is a sufficient supply of younger men. This scrapping, not of the aged, but of the middle aged—men in the prime of life—cannot be regarded without painful misgiving. There is an impression that the same tendency is operating in New Zealand. It would bo interesting to know whether this impression is confirmed by an analysis of the unemployed into age-groups, and whether industrial legislation as well as employers' preference weights the scales against the older men, men at an age when their family responsibilities are heaviest. Surely the family man should be served before youth.