OCCUPATION FIRST

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1932, Page 5

OCCUPATION FIRST

PAY NOT ALL-IMPORTANT. OUT-OF,-WORK BOYS. “It is upon youthful opportunity that the true patrio; must ever keenp a vigilant eye and employ a resourceful brain,” said his the Governor-General, Lord Bleduito , when opening the annual meeting; of the Dominion Boy Scouts Council m Wei SoTon Friday. L°rd BtaMw its report grave concern about the baneful effects of the abnormal unemployment position upon the ofcby who, under ordinary conditions, won d have been absorbed in industry, tT Excellency. . idleness’ is more calculated to. under mine character and destroy self<;nect than any other influence. I say ‘so-called’ because, although unemployment may be inevitable, >dl»e» » at least to one who has had the tram ing of a scout. . j +hp “Desirable though it is 5 “ ren t standpoint of the State and the parent that should, have remunerative employment of a wholesome it is far more important that a hoy or adolescent should find some tion for his hands and his mind than that he should be paid for it. deed, unless he does there is a pros pect of the State having ultimately to suffer loss financially and ethically, and a potentially useful citizen becoming a burden both to the community and himself. And the more active-minded S capable tlie body, the greater are bis- potentialities for demoralisation unless scope can be found continuously for the salutary, or at least the innocuous, expenditure of his energies. “The same individual is often potentially the greatest saint and the greatest sinner, a man of eminence and a debased criminal, according to environment and opportunity,” . concluded his Excellency. “It is upon youthful environment and opportunity that the true patriot must ever keep a vigilant eye and employ a resourceful brain.