VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21214, 20 December 1930, Page 11

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Vocational Guidance Committee was held on Thursday in the Y.M.C.A. Mr J. L. Salmond (president of the Y.M.C.A;) presided, and others present were Messrs J. R. Fairbairn (Chamber of Commerce), R. Duncan (Manufacturers’ Association), J. H. Wilkinson (Education Board of Otago), D, W. Baird i (King Edward Technical College Managers), F. Jones (Workers' Educational Association), W. Currie (Labour Department), S. Hill (Otago Labour Council), Mrs S. M. Park (Otago High School Board of Governors), Miss L. Sullivan (Otago Branch N.Z.E.1.), Miss M. R. Shernff (National Council of Women, Dunedin Branch), Mr W. Wallace (Y.M.C.A.). A letter was received from Miss M. Mackenzie (National Council of Women) tendering her resignation as recording secretary. Miss M'Kenzie has been reluctantly obliged to withdraw from the movement for a time on account of 111 health. The committee accepted her resignation with deep regret, and moved that a letter of appreciation be sent to her for the valuable service rendered to the movement. A report was submitted by Mr W. Currie on “ The Labour Department and Vocational Guidance." This report covered practically every point in connection with the movement, giving valuable information, and at the same time solving some of the problems confronting the committee. A. lengthy discussion followed on many of the difficulties to be surmounted before the committee could actually operate. In this connection Mr Currie, with his wide knowledge and experience, was able to offer many practical suggestions. In view of the fact that approximately 600 to COO boys and girls in Dunedin would 'be . leaving school this year, the committee felt that its immediate principle duty was to place these in Work. - Owing to the existing economic circumstances the city Industries could not possibly absorb this uumbe'r this year. The feeling was expressed that as large numbers of boys could not be placed in ■ billets in the city, it might be possible to devise some scheme whereby hoys could be placed In* the country rather than that they should remain idle and probably develop laziness and general deterioration of character. A small committee was set up to go into this matter with representatives of the farming community, and to report to next meeting of the committee.