FINDING WORK FOR BOYS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1932, Page 4

FINDING WORK FOR BOYS

best PROSPECT on land SCHEME FOR THEIR EDUCATION. LAWS HAMPERING CITY FIRMS. TEMPORARY SCHEMES OF WORK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, July 27. The preliminary results of their investigations on behalf of the Government into the problem of unemployment among youths was reviewed to-day by Messrs. A. E. Ansell and S. G. Smith, M.P.’fi. They said they had everywhere encountered a keen desire for the formation of district committees and willingness to follow any lead given. In both Christchurch and Dunedin effective organisations existed, and in Canterbury the scheme of placing boys on farms had proved more popular than anywhere else.

Fifty-four boys had been placed on farms in five months. In Dunedin 100 boys had intimated their willingness for farm work. In Invercargill 45 boys had been placed, in Wellington 75, and in Gisborne 50. In New Plymouth, as a temporary expedient, a co-operative ki -dling w'ood enterprise , and message bureau had been established. The members expressed the opinion that, with the incentive they were endeavouring to provide, mainly in regard to a limited course of scientific agricultural education, the farm work scheme was likriy to be considerably extended within the near future. The evidence collected so far would show that the city youth could be rapidly turned into a successful help on a farm. t The idea was that for two months in the dead season of the year boys from farms should receive training at an agricultural college. Already Lincoln College was going to take 50 such boys. The members said that when they asked city" empoyers to engage more boys, though willing, they were hampered by the Apprentice Act, Factories Act and Shops and Offices Act, and they were df the opinion that these laws should be modified. The members were anxious to obtain concrete evidence for and against the proposal. Steps were being taken to explore the possibility of creating work suitable for youths, including manufacturing such articles as school rulers, of which 8000 were used weekly. A committee in Christchurch is inquiring into the possible extension of this idea. So far there has been a most satisfactory response by the public to the members’ efforts.