Rotarians Interested In Child Employment

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 521, 26 November 1928, Page 13

Rotarians Interested In Child Employment

ENTHUSIASM AT ADDRESS COMMITTEE TO BE FORMED After an instructive address by Mr. W. A. Garry on the problem of employing young people leaving school, Auckland Rotarians at today’s luncheon passed a resolution that the club directors should set up a committee to confer with employers in the city with regard to the question. Mr. Garry was speaking at the inquest of the Auckland Educational Society. The society had decided that the Rotary Club was the most representative organisation of citizens, and would probably take an active part in finding a solution fur the problem. Mr. C. 11. Clinkard, M.P. for Rotorua, was at the luncheon, and gave his opinions on the problem. fir. C. F. Bennett moved that a committee should be formed, and the seconder was Mr. E. C. Cutten. S.M. “I simply drank in Mr. Garry’s address.” Air. Cutten said. Other members praised the speaker for his comprehensive speech. “Utterly serious,” was Mr. Garry’s description of the problem. “We must recognise that the question is of the utmost importance. It is very insistent at this time of the year. “In recent years it has been intensified. Since the Great War, particularly, the competition among the sexes has been increased. “It would be a very poor man. however, who would oppose the advanced opportunities for women for careers. But the fact remains that there is a double amount of human material to absorb.” DOWNWARD TENDENCIES ' Mr. Garry said that, although there were no definite' figures, there was plentiful evidence that the problem was acute'. The time had arrived for the Government to seek sane adjustment. Unless the young people were adsorbed, the tendency toward juvenile crime and toward greater unemployment was increased. “I am speaking to a representative assembly of citizens,” Mr. Garry said. “I would suggest that a committee could be set up in the community to investigate the position, and keep in touch for tiie children. Here, again, is a question for the*Government We are threatened by a serious danger unless a solution is found. “Another problem is the determining of right avenues for young people in their training. There is no doubt whatever that our educational system needs drastic changes toward considering the aptitudes of students. Education should not be directed along one channel. Would it not be logical for the State to give opportunities for boys and girls to strike out in lines to which they are suited? Something has been done in educational guidance, but much work remains. Possibly the causes of the problem c-uild be countered by a Government and not by an individual community. DOMESTIC “STIGMA” The speaker referred to the unpopularity of farm-work among boys and domestic service among girls. At present the prospects in both lines of work were poor. Boys required the hope of possessing land of their own after farm training, and the existing “stigma” should be lifted from domestic service. Further, the employers needed education regarding the status of domestic work. “There is no doubt that our education has been too bookish,” the speaker went on to say. “There should have been more development physically—that is to say, development of the body in relation to work.’ Mr. Garry mentioned existing difficulties confronting a solution. One was the limitation of the number of apprentices. The speaker urged the Rotarians to realise the seriousness of the problem. Unless active measures were taken to absorb the young people leaving school in congenial occupations, Hew Zealand would be up against a great obstacle to development. Tim full attendance of Rotarians was enthusiastic and the motion to set up a committee was carried unanimously.