ACUTE PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 21895, 22 December 1932, Page 6

ACUTE PROBLEM

UNEMPLOYED BOYS COMMITTEE’S REPORT RELEASED % FARM TRAINING “We are convinced that this problem. is one of the most vital facing the people of New Zealand to-day, and is, in fact, the most acute human problem with which this generation has been called upon to deal.” This sentence occurs early in a lengthy report which Mr A. E. Ansell, member for Chalmers, and Mr S. G. Smith, member for New Plymouth and former Minister of Labour, have submitted to Cabinet following upon the Government’s request to them that they should undertake an investigation of the unemployed boy problem and as far as possible organize local effort to assist in mitigating the serious effects of unemployment among the boys of the Dominion. As a result of personal investigation of the work already being done by organizations, the committee expresses its high appreciation of the publicspirited effort which has already led to a measure of success. This is indicated—and the extent of the remaining problem also shown —by the following figures:— Unemployed boys registered 5,903 Placed in employment 2,850 On farms 1172 In trade 421 In shops and offices 593 Miscellaneous 6G4 Still on unemployed roll 3,044 Resisting the temptation to analyse causes, the committee confines its report strictly to “effects” and remedies, with a full recognition of the Government’s financial difficulties. “We would point out that our recommendations generally for dealing with the problem are qualified, so far as Government assistance, monetary and otherwise, is concerned, by reason of our knowledge as members of Parliament of the general economic budgetary difficulties brought about by the fall in prices,” states the report. “Had it not been for this knowledge, our suggestions may have been of a very different character, but we are unable to gauge when conditions may improve, nor can we say on what level the Dominion will eventually be called upon to exist.” National Problem. The full extent of the problem is not represented by the number of unemp’nyed boys at present on the roll, the c-mmittee pointing out that many boys h-’ve been staying on at school because of failure to obtain employment, but that this process cannot be indefinitely continued and the possibilities are that the close of the present school year will see a largei’ number of boys than usual leaving our schools. In carrying out the committee’s suggestions, co-operation of existing organizations which have done such effective work and the help of other bodies, is regarded by the committee as essential in dealing with what they characterize as an outstanding national problem. “These unemployed boys,” they state, “are the nation’s greatest asset. Unemployment for them is more than loss of earning power; it is the serious loss of the opportunity to acquire skill, diligence, and love of toil at that critical period in their lives when they should be trained in industry and their characters moulded to meet life’s difficulties The responsibility for dealing with this problem is one which concerns every citizen. “It is not a task that can or should be borne by the Government, but is one that essentially attaches itself—outside the parent—to local organizations and individual citizens. As a result of our inquiries we are convinced that an organized committee of citizens (representative of every walk of life), in the various centres can deal most effectively with the problem. There is no comparable substitute. We believe that when the public realizes the immense importance of any efforts made by these organizations to combat the evils of unemployment in youth, they will receive the whole-hearted support of the community. The public are prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with these lads and assist them to prepare themselves for their life’s work and to become worthy citizens. Their objective can be attained if we organize our resources and direct them wisely and sympathetically.” Farm Training for Boys. After carefully investigating the opportunities for boys in town occupations, the committee declares that “at no period in the history of New Zealand have commerce and industry offered such slender chances for the absorption of boys on completing their school life.” Actual difficulties experienced by boys’ employment committees in Auckland and Wellington are quoted in support of this contention. Therefore the committee gives special attention to the possibility of absorbing boys on the land. They stress the importance of land occupations in z view of New Zealand’s almost complete financial dependence on returns from exported products of the land. Various organizations working for the welfare of workless boys have been able to place a number of boys on farms, but the committee considers something further must be done for them in order that they may ultimately become established as farmers rather than remain farm-workers. It is also desirable to establish a closer relationship between science and agriculture in New Zealand, and the committee has discussed the problem with leading educational authorities with the result that it has been able to arrange that a course of scientific agricultural training be given to these boys during a portion of each year at suitable institutions, the training to be provided without any cost to the boys and to be undertaken during the off-season in farm work. The future of successful farming lies along the lines of intensive cultivation by farmers possessed of a scientific knowledge and interested in their work, prepared to accept and adopt new and progressive ideas and methods based on scientific discoveries. The committee considers if larger numbers of our boys can be placed on the land and induced to develop their country, and in so doing establish themselves, what may to-day be regarded as misfortunes may be turned into blessings in the future. Land Settlement, “The time has arrived for evolving a definite land settlement scheme whereby young men who have completed a course at an agricultural college or agricultural high school and have obtained a certificate of approval from such colleges or schools, and who have worked for a period of not less than two years on a farm or station and have shown by their diligence and competency that they will prove to be efficient farmers, shall be given every encouragement and facility to make good and ultimately become farmers themselves, instead of remaining farm workers, or seeking other avenues of employment,” states the report. "Such a scheme would be the means of placing on the land a most desirable and efficient type of farmer, and would prove an incentive to boys to enter

agricultural life; thus ultimately creating a national asset which could not be too highly assessed.” In discussing where land can be found for this purpose, the committee point out that a very large proportion of lands now carrying sheep and beef cattle are eminently suitable for dairying,.but as they are privately-owned their conversion to dairying can be left to economic ' pressure on the landowner. “In the past the purchase of such privately-owned developed or partly developed lands by the Government for closer settlement necessarily called fot heavy capital payments,” they state. “At the present time the Dominion requires a scheme of land settlement which aims at the development and bringing in of land which is now undeveloped and unproductive, or only partially developed and perhaps retrogressing. Such a scheme has a two-fold benefit in that it will provide immediately employment for the greatest number, and later settle and render productive land which at present is not adding to the Dominion’s wealth. Under existing economic conditions land may be developed at costs which should enable it to pay its way at present price levels.” The committee suggest that a considerable number of areas of Crown land suitable for such a scheme can be found amongst the idle lands of the Crown, if a stocktaking were made by men of experience and vision.

The committee consider that generally no labour should be employed except that of youths selected as potential settlers. Allotments should not exceed 75 acres in any case, and if the quality of the land permits the area should be in the vicinity of 60 acres for preference. Success in farming consists of the fullest utilization .of the land rather than the indifferent or partial use of larger areas. Town Boys for Farms.

The committee recommend _ that where suitable openings are available for town boys, they be placed direct on farms. “But,” they add, the utmost care should be exercised, to select only farmers possessed of that sense of responsibility which will establish confidence in the minds of the parents and of the boys. As the placing of boys on farms is at present the most promising avenue for employment, important questions arise, e.g., providing efficient training, good homes, and the right kind of supervisory care. There is the difficulty that parents are unwilling to let their boys leave home for fear of unsatisfactory associations in new surroundings.” „ . “On many farms,” they state, the usual side-lines of farming are neglected, perhaps for the want of capital or suitable opportunity for specialized instructions, but we consider that if suitable expert instruction could be provided, the sons of farmers could in a great number of cases be usefully employed with successful financial resuits in this way, besides being kept on the land. Included in the term side-lines referred to above are the following: 1. Pig-raising. 2. Poultry-farming. 3. Bee-keeping. 4. Heifer calf raising (from tested stock with backing) 5. Certified seed raising. 6. Orchard development.’ The importance of widening the range of the Dominion’s exportable products is stressed by the committee which points out that by this means the country can enlarge and secure greater stability of its markets. The scheme suggested is now in practice at Rangiora High School. . In some cases farmers’ economic difficulties have compelled them to withdraw their sons from educational facilities, thus depriving them of agricultural instruction which would have fitted them better for life on a farm. To meet this difficulty one of the High Schools in the South Island receives farmers’ sons for “one day a week training,” and while this scheme can only be of limited application, the report strongly commends it. Unpopular Apprenticeship. In dealing with the possibility of providing employment in the towns, the committee set out at length the law covering apprenticeship and the history of its administration. Employers, under the severe economic conditions, have found the apprenticeship system an increasing difficulty which has led to a great diminution in the numbers employed. “An especially distressing feature of the problem,” state the committee, “is the large number of apprentices who have uncompleted periods of apprenticeship contracts and who are now unemployed for the reason either that there is no work or training in the shops or factories where they were employed, or their employers, either individuals or firms, have gone out of business on account of the general trade depression. Under existing conditions it is difficult to find another firm who can take over such an apprentice, and unless some scheme is evolved these unfortunate youths will never be able to complete their apprenticeship and thus become tradesmen-ur skilled artisans. Through no fault of their own, they will be relegated to the ranks of unskilled workers, though they possess the ability, concentration and skill, if given the right opportunity, to make their mark among the skilled artisans of this country.”

It is pointed out that unless a remedy is found a most serious condition will arise when trade becomes normal and the demand for skilled men increases, because skilled men will then have to be imported and our own boys will become the unskilled workers. “The normal solution is work,” states the report, “but if there is none available a substitute must be found. Technical training can provide the stepping-stone to regular employment when industry revives. The country may not at present be able to employ these boys, but can still less afford to let them drift. The natural sequence to unemployment is deterioration, physical, moral and mental. It is therefore of the utmost importance that local organizations shall make such arrangements with technical school authorities in the various centres as will assist in overcoming this difficulty by providing facilities for vocational training. Abundant evidence has been produced which shows that technical training in New Zealand is of a very high order. Continuation Classes. “Delay in finding regular work,” states the report, “will probably undo the good which years of school work have accomplished, and provision should be made for continuation of training. In accordance with the evidence presented, the bare minimum for efficient work is ten hours per week. The facilities for this training vary in different districts, and despite the voluntary service offered by Technical school teachers, the State must be expected to contribute towards the expenses involved in the organization necessary.” A Special Problem. “The problem of placing boys of seventeen to twenty years of age in employment is,” states the report, “presenting special difficulties right throughout the Dominion.” Employers, it has been found from investigation by the committee are disinclined to take youths over the age of sixteen, the reason given being that the older boys have grown careless and indifferent and are difficult to teach and hard to control and appear to resent the more elementary duties of the beginner. “We however, appeal to employers not to prejudge nor to' condemn the older boys, and suggest that they are at least entitled to a fair trial,” state the committee. “The idea that these boys are

failures should be combated as evidence is not wanting that they are, where given a fair trial, making good. The position is not hopeless for these boys as from their age they should naturally be better developed and more physically fitted to undertake farm work and their case should Toe substantially met by the farm development schemes we have outlined elsewhere. In view of the difficulty we have outlined, we suggest that local organizations should concentrate on placing boys of from seventeen to twenty years of age on farms.”

The existence of a number of unemployed sailors and firemen and the constantly diminishing volume of coastal traffic in particular presents special difficulties in absorbing New Zealand boys in the sea-faring occupation. Recognizing this the committee point out the importance of a sea-girt country training a proportion of its youths in sea-faring occupations, and suggest that as British ships carry large consignments of New Zealand produce, the companies concerned might be induced to include several New Zealand boys in the ships’ complement. The report recommends that in each centre where the problem exists there shall be established a general council representing the citizens and representative of all interests, and dealing with matters of policy, extension of activities. Working in close association with the general council should be an executive committee consisting of the conveners of sub-committees which will undertake special duties, the conveners thus co-ordinating all activities. The activities of the sub-committees should cover—

(1) Physical development. (2) General education development. (3) Vocational and pre-vocational development. (4) Athletic development. (5) Social development.