ALREADY IN FULL SWING

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1932, Page 3

ALREADY IN FULL SWING

BOYS’ EMPLOYMENT SCHEME

KINDLING WOOD MANUFACTORY.

ARRANGEMENT FOR CANVASSING. The kindling wood factory established to assist unemployed boys in New Plymouth is already in full swing. A shed has been obtained in Leach Street, and all yesterday a number of boys were engaged in splitting wood and making up bundles ready for sale. Arrangements were made yesterday for the canvassing of all districts of New Plymouth, for orders by certain of the boys. Twenty-five boys attended a meeting called by the committee yesterday. One was a new registration. Adults present were Adjutant S. Green (chairman), Messrs. W. G. Reid (secretary), G. H. Gorringe and O. Johnson (members of the committee). Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., who, with Mr. A. E. Ansell, member for Chalmers, has been appointed to investigate unemployment amongst boys, was also present. Mr. Gorringe outlined the progress already made. The shed was obtained at a rental of 7s. 6d. On Saturday half a dozen boys were present and arranged everything so that a start could be made with the work‘yesterday morning. It had been decided to make the bundles of faggots bigger and sell them at three for 3d. instead of five for 3d. That would save time and work. Mr. Gorringe exhibited bundles of the size that would be sold. There was more in them than in an ordinary fruit box, so people who bought them would be getting their money’s worth. Boys w-ere wanted from each district to canvass the town and take orders, later distributing the wood. Cards had been printed and each boy would carry one bearing his name to show that he belonged to the unemployed boys’ movement. About a dozen display cards had been painted and it was hoped the boys would be able to induce storekeepers in their districts to display the cards in the shop windows and take orders for wood.

' ASSISTANCE OFFERED. Mr. Gorringe pointed out that the rent of the shed would be a charge on the boys’ takings, though he understood the ladies of the White Ribbon had offered to hold an afternoon in order to raise the rent.

Mr. Reid said he was assured that day that the movement had the full support of the New Plymouth Rotary Club. Offers to canvass were made by the boys and appointments were made for each district. Three boys were appointed to collect wood for the factory and the remainder will begin work at the factory to-day. The boys announced that they had already chosen two of their number to be in charge of the factory. On these two will devolve the work of checking the hours worked and the number of bundles manufactured.

Mr. Smith addressed the boys briefly. He was sorry, he said, that New Zealand was in such a condition that in New Plymouth, there were 50 boys out of jobs. He hoped they would do thenbest to help the committee and themselves, even if only temporarily. The Government had appointed Mr. Ansell and himself a committee to investigate juvenile unemployment, and one of the first things they had to do was to find out how many boys were unemployed. Then they had to find out the best method of getting the boys work, and finally find some suggestion for their permanent employment. He understood that in some districts an effort had been made to alleviate the position, but in others nothing was done. The Government, Mr. Smith said, was fully seized with the seriousness of having so many boys out of work. Under the conditions to-day the boy who was going to win was the boy was willing to try. “Grab a job; any job you can get, and hang on to it,” was the speaker’s advice. In every town there were a great many boys who wanted to be independent and not be a charge on their parents. The committee in New Plymouth was working for their good, and he felt sure there would be very few refusals met as the boys canvassed New Plymouth, because they showed they were battling for themselves. He was waiting that day for a final telegram which would set out the beginning of the investigation, Mr. Smith said, in concluding his appeal to the boys. The older men appreciated that the boys would be men themselves in a fbw more years,, and he impressed upon the boys the need of showing their appreciation of what the committee was doing for them. It would be his desire to co-operate with them as much as possible when he and Mr. Ansell visited. New Plymouth. Mr. Johnson impressed upon the boys the desirability of attending- the classes arranged by Mr. A. L. Moore, technical director.

The secretary reported that there were 58 boys registered on the roll.