THE TRAGEDY OF YOUTH.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3928, 19 July 1937, Page 4

THE TRAGEDY OF YOUTH.

A GENERAL welcome will be given the plans announced by the acting Minister for Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, for a campaign to find employ ment in industry and commerce for unemployed youths. Recent disclosures by social workers, Y.M.C.A. offi cials and placement officers have caused a realisation that the return of prosperous condition has brought very little relief to young untrained men, whose difficulties have been aggravated by the industrial laws and the enforcement of the basic wage at the’ age of 21. Their plight has been described with some truth as “being too old for work at 21.” Although some authorities estimate a higher figure, Mr Webbs admit that 5000 normal young men between the ages of 18 and 25 are without work and are drawing sustenance, having been unable to find a place for themselves in industry and business while younger boys have found ready employment. A very complete organisation is to be set up to act as liaison between these unemployed youths and employers and the Minister is confident that much can be done, with the full co operation of employers, to find positions for many of the youths. Representatives of Dominion manufacturers who are members of the special committee set up to study the question believe that if the Government secures the Dominion market to home produced goods work will soon be found for unemployed youths. This and other inter-related questions such as effecting compromises in basic wage and apprenticeship orders will, no doubt, be dealt with on their merits. The Minister’s statement makes it clear that the Government is now fully aware of the urgent need forhelping unemployed youths, whose position is perhaps the most tragic ( aftermath of the depression period.