The Daily News SATURDAY, AUGUST .6, 1932. WORKLESS YOUTHS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1932, Page 6

The Daily News

SATURDAY, AUGUST .6, 1932. WORKLESS YOUTHS.

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One facet of the manyrpointed unemployment problem has, very rightly, been brought into prominence of late. It is that of providing work for boys who have reached the end of their school days and are finding that many former avenues of employment have been closed. At the risk of being platitudinous it is necessary to plead for the long view in regard to this as well as the other phases of the unemployment problem. It is easy to understand the impatience of the social worker with this plea, faced as he often is with the necessity for providing food and clothing immediately if distress is to be avoided. Nevertheless, the greater the» efforts to solve the unemployment problem the plainer becomes the conclusion that something more than immediately palliative measures are essential. So in Regard to workless youths it is necessary to look ahead. Their problem is one of the most serious the Dominion has to face, though in the welter of trouble brought about by adult unemployment the position in regard to boys was rather overlooked. Now that the seriousness of the matter is realised it is necessary that public opinion should not rush to the other extreme. What is required first of all is definite information in each district |as to the amount of boy labour 'that is unemployed. When that is known with some degree of accuracy those who are trying to find opportunities of employment will be able to. size up the definite task ahead of them. There have been extravagant statements in regard to the matter. Some people have urged that if the adult unemployed are looked after the boys will look after themselves. In other words, if fathers of families have the means of sustenance, either through State employment at “award” rates of pay or through I a State dole, they will be able to (support the boys who are unable to obtain work. At the other ex- . Itreme are those who paint the

position of the workless boys in lurid colours, but when asked for facts are unable to provide them. The actuality lies between these two extremes, and, fortunately, ' this is being recognised throughout the Dominion. It is of the utmost importance that boys leaving school should not be allowed to drift into idleness and to grow up with the idea that they have a right to maintenance at the expense of someone or other without giving something in return as their* contribution to community life. To allow such opinions to’ develop would be to risk breeding a race with moral deterioration made easy in its most impressionable years. There is room, therefore, for all possible effort in the avoidance of such a deplorable result. Recognition of this is the first step, and it has been accomplished. From one end of the Dominion to the other people are taking a keener interest than ever in finding work for* boys. Parliament, local authorities, schoolmasters, employers’ associations, churches and social workers of every description are doing their best, and—still more encouraging —they are finding the boys themselves responsive to the attempts that are being made in their behalf. This does not mean that every youth satisfactorily performs work that is found for him, but speaking generally the boys of New Zealand are ready and willing to make the best of any opportunity they are afforded. It is in this regard that the long view must again be emphasised. Granted that almost any employment is better than idleness, it is still necessary to envision a boy’s career as well as his immediate sustenance. Investigations made by the two members of Parliament appointed by the Government, Messrs S. G. Smith and A. E. Ansell, have shown 'that land settlement offers the main avenue of suitable employment for boys. Mr. Smith brought to the inquiry the experience he obtained as Minister of Employment for some mouths, and the facts and figures he has made public show not only that the problem is widespread but that genuine efforts are being made throughout the Dominion to overcome it. Admitting that land settlement must come first as a means of -absorbing boy labour, there is room for further effort in regard to, other industries. Here 'afiieiidment of the Apprentices to some extent make it easier for employers to absorb more boys. One of the good results of the present inquiries is that they have shown all thinking people that the old idea that employers desire boy labour because it is cheap, and thus increases their profits, does not hold good to-day. What most employers who would willingly give more boys a chance are confronted with is the question of how to put the boys in the way of learning craftsmanship when the number of tradesmen by whom they would be taught their calling has been drastically reduced owing to the lowered spending power of the community. It is a difficulty recognised by tradesmen as well as by employers, and it is one that no amount of goodwill can overcome:; At- the same time temporary "relief, measures are better than allowing boys to drift into idleness, and the individual who can offer even a few days’ work should link himself with one of the organisations interested. The problem is grave, but will not be insuperable if the interest that has been' awakened leads to practical assistance wherever possible.