YOUTHS ON LAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18089, 16 May 1933, Page 4

YOUTHS ON LAND

SETTLEMENT CRITICISED ANSELL-SMITH REPORT Some criticism was levelled at the Technical Teachers’ .Conference at Wellington at the Youths’ Land Settlement Scheme outlined in the report of Messrs. A. E. Ansell, M.P., and S. G. Smith, M.P., to tho Government on juvenile unemployment. It was urged that even if land could bo obtained it would not bo worth while at the present prices of butter and wool.

The discussion arose on a proposal that the Government should provide an inducement for boys toward an agricultural life.

Mr. F. J. Gair, Christchurch, said lie did not take tho report seriously. It was estimated that there was sufficient land which could be made available for tlie scheme, but the report did not say where the land was to lio found.' Ifit was to bo found now, why was it not found 12 years ago when butter Was 2s 6d a lb. and wool the same price? Even if the land could bo found, was it desirable to use it, for they were told that there were too many on the land already. He thought sight had been lost of the changes made in the last 20 years. All over tho world more and more peoplo were going on the land, and butter and wool prices were falling. He could not see that the scheme Was any solution of the problem of-provid-ing employment for youth. The conference should not support a report which was indefinite.

Mr. R. G. Ridling (Wellington) supported the proposal, lie said that industry would not be able to absorb the whole of the youth of New Zealand for a long period to come. The mechanisation of industry was reducing the need for labor, and was leading to reduced hours of work. The object of the conference was to try and find, an .outlet for youths, and it would .be better to seo them producing for themselves rather than doing nothing. , The conference adopted the proposal.