WORK FOR BOYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17911, 15 October 1932, Page 5

WORK FOR BOYS

POSITION EXPLAINED ONLY CHANCE ON FARMS MUCH ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A careful inquiry conducted throughout the whole of New Zealand has shown that under the existing circumstances only 10 per cent, of the workless youths can bo absorbed into trades in the cities. The only alternative is to find them work on farms. These statements were made in the House by Mr. 8. G. Smith, Minister of Labor in the last United Cabinet, who has just completed, with Mr. A. E. Anseli, an inquiry on behalf of the Government into the position of unemployed boys in New Zealand. Describing the problem of unemployed youths as one of the greatest tragedies of the tragedy of unemployment, Mr. Smith said that although the position was serious, wild talk from various quarters has resulted in incorrect deductions being drawn from incomplete details. In December, 1930, the number of apprentices employed in skilled trades throughout the Dominion was 9826, but by December 31 of last year that number liad dwindled to 6910. To-day there were about 3000 fewer apprentices employed than there were 19 months ago. Many of these youths had been thrown out of work through their employers going out of business. MANY WRONG STATEMENTS

A statement frequently had been made that 20,000 boys left school each year, and had nowhere to go, continued Mr. Smith._ That statement was, however, entirely incorrect. It was one of many statements which served to falsify the true position. It had been shown in the official report of the Education Department that of 16,467 boys who left the State schools last year, the destination of all was known except for 11)44. In addition, 1358 had remained at home. This disproved the statement that thousands of bovs were leaving school each year and failing to find employment. Mr. Smith indicated that in a few days’ time information which would give the true position 'concerning boy unemplovment would be placed before the Minister.) It could not be overlooked, in fairness to the Unemployment Board, that of a total of 73,596 men wholly or partially dependent on relief from the State at the end of September, 67,057 wore receiving employment of some description. In Taranaki, 50 married men had been placed on the land under the small farm plan. They were satisfied and grateful that they had been able to undertake this class of employment with the help of the board. Unless tne funds of the board were used in placing men in productive work, the whole scheme of unemployment relief would break down under its own weight. COMPARISON WITH N.S.W.

Mr. Smith compared the amount of relief given in New Zealand as compared with other countries. He declared that the unemployed in New Zealand were proportionately better off, and that the State was doing considerably more for them than was the case in other countries. As an example there were 150,000 unemployed in New South Wales last year, and of these only 650 were on relief work. ‘‘How did the others live?” interjected Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labor, Napier). “On the dole” was Mr. Smith’s reply. He said that the condition of affairs which he had pictured in New South Wales was in the days of the Lang regime. Within a few weeks of the Stevens Government taking over, between 30,000 and 50,000 men were in work. There was no one in New Zealand who would urge that relief work should be abolished and the men placed on sustenance alone. Mr. A. S. Richards (Labor, Koskill): Tell that to the country. Mr. Smith referred Mr. Richards to Hansard, where he would see that the Leader of the Labor Party had said on several occasions that work was preferable to tlie dole. EMPLOYERS PLAYING THE GAME

There were numerous committees investigating the problem of unemployed boys throughout tho country, Mr. Smith said. They were d,onig excellent work, but before ever these committees commenced to function the Government was dealing with the problem, and hundreds of boys between the ages of Id ami 18 years who had not contributed one penny to the funds of the Unemployment Board had been found positions on farms. It had been shown that not more than 10 per cent, of the boys at present unemployed could be absorbed in trades, m the cities, and the only alternative was to find them work on farms. All over New Zealand, and particularly in the Auckland district, hundreds had been sent out into the country. Complaints had been made that contitions on farms wore not good, but he could say, after careful inquiry throughout the whole country, that. 98 per cent, of the farmers were playing the game by the boys they were assisting. In spite of the vilification of the Government and the Unemployment Board, a great deal was being done to relieve distress. Many low paid workers were finding it more difficult to carry on under the burden of taxation than men on relief work themselves.