YOUTHS’ UNEMPLOYMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1932, Page 9

YOUTHS’ UNEMPLOYMENT

GRAVE PROBLEM STRESSED

“CAREERS COMMITTEE” PROPOSED

STATE .RESPONSIBILITY DEFINED

HELP IN ANY PLANS PROMISED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington,. Last Night. The seriousness of the unemployment problem, especially regarding boys, was emphasised by an influential and representative deputation which to-day waited upon the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G- W. Forbes), the Minister of Employment (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom). It was urged that some definite statement of the Government’s policy should be made. Mr. Forbes replied that if a plan could be presented the Government would do what it could to assist. The deputation had the endorsement of all church bodies and included representatives of various churches, the Y.M.C.A., Boy Scout movement, employers’ associations, Rotary movement, New Zealand Land Development League, A. and P. associations and the Real Estate Institute. The principal speaker was Archbishop Averill, who said that the absence of any organised attempt to find some sort of employment for youths between the ages of 15 and 20 was utterly detrimental to the welfare of the boys and the future welfare of the Dominion. He emphasised that the boys were up against a blank wall and so situated became a prey to the hoodlum element, and were ready to assimilate Bolshevism or Communism. That spirit would develop unless something was done. “PRACTICALLY FOR SALE.” Mr. Gribble, president of the Land Development League, said 20,000 boys in New Zealand were to-day practically for sale. He urged the complete registration and classification of boys, and not only suggested a scheme for placing boys on the land or subsidising employers but also urged that Dominion “careers committees” be set up. to assist in devising a national policy for relief of boys’ unemployment. Cther speakers said boys had a legitimate claim on the unemployment fund. ' Mr. Holdsworth (Auckland) said that at terrific expense the Government was wasting time by keeping pupils a year longer at school when they had finished, and it would pay a hundredfold if the problem were tackled properly and the boys given something useful to do. Mr. Coates, replying, stressed the need for cohesion. He said a good deal of the effect of what was being attempted by the Government was destroyed by ill-considered criticism, and he made a plea for co-operation instead of destructive criticism. The State could not relieve parents who could afford to keep their boys of the responsibility of finding them some form of work. He could consider only the unemployment of sons of registered relief workers. He emphasised that the budgetary position was very difficult. “We are faced with deficits, anyhow,” said Mr. Coates, “but we are trying to live up to the programme we have laid down.”

LAND SETTLEMENT.

Regarding laud settlement, Mr. Coates said they were doing the best they could with the funds available. If 5000 people- could, be. cent on to the land fairly quickly it would relievo the fund to the extent of between £300,000 and £400,000 a year. In view of the Government’s very limited resources he considered its duty lay at present first of all with . the married men with families and. their dependents. No further commitments in expenditure colild be justified at-present, urgent and necessitous as the cases might be, for the reasons outlined.

An assurance was given by Mr. Forbes that whatever organisation could be devised for training boys or giving them occupation the Government was willing to assist. The Government alone could not deal with the problem. If a plan could be presented the Government would do what it could to assist in fulfilling it. The deputation’s representations would be placed before Cabinet for serious consideration.