STATE INSURANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 9

STATE INSURANCE

BRITISH UNEMPLOYMENT ACT EXTENSION TO JUVENILES ■ - (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, August 27. About 700,000 juvenile workers who are not. now insured will from next Monday reap the benefits of State insurance as the result of a provision made in the Unemployment Act for lowering the age of entry. Hitherto, although most boys and “girls leaving school obtained employment shortly after reaching 14, they have, not come under the Unemployment Insurance Acts until they, reached the age. of 16, and there has in consequence been a gap of two years. This meant,that a majority of; boys and girls, on passing out of the schools, have for two years also passed out of the range of supervision and guidance provided by organisations specially set up to give them advice and assistance during the early years; of their industrial life. After' September 3 practically all juveniles of 14 years and over who are working for an employer will be insurable unless they are employed in agriculture or domestic service in private houses, or are apprentices receiving no wages. ; i . ....

The Unemployment Act provides for the establishment of courses of instruc-tioni-for unemployed boys and girls between-; .the .school .'leaving age and 1$ years of age. For the first time a statutory obligation is imposed on education authorities to provide stich courses, and for the first time, the Labour Minister is empowered to requite the attendance at a course of instruction of any unemployed boy or girl of this age. Attendance at the course of instruction will be enforced in the same way as attendance at school. The object of the courses of instruction is to prevent the demoralisation which so soon threatens .boys and girls when-they have nothing to occupy their hands or minds.