UNEMPLOYMENT OF BOYS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1932, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT OF BOYS

REVIEW OF THE POSITION

CTWHH-ANSELL REPORT RELEASED.

“FARMING THE CHIEF SOLUTION.”

RECOMMENDATIONS BY COMMITTEE

“We are convinced that this problem i* O ne of the most vital facing the people of New Zealand to-day, and is, in fact, the most acute human problem with which this generation has - been called upon to deal.” . This sentence occurs early in a lengthy report which Mr. A. E. Ansell, member frir Chalmers, and Mr. S. G. Smith, member for New Plymouth and former Minister of Labour, have submitted to Cabinet following upon the Government s request to them that they should undertake an investigation of the unemployed boy problem and as far as possible organise local effort to assist in mitigating the serious effects of unemployment among the boys of the Dominion. As a result of personal investigation of the work already being done by organisations, the committee expresses its high appreciation of the public-spirited effort which has already led to a measure 'of success. This is indicated—and the extent of the remaining problem also shown—by the following figures:—Unemployed boys registered, 5908; placed in employment,. 2850;- on farms 1172, in trade 421, in shops and offices 593, miscellaneous 664; still on unemployed roll, 3044. Resisting the temptation to analyse causes, the committee confines its report strictly to “effects” and remedies, with a full recognition of the Govemment’s financial difficulties. “We would point out that our recommendations generally for dealing with the problem are qualified, so far as Government assistance," monetary and otherwise, is concerned, by reason of our knowledge as members of Parliament, of the general economic budgetary difficulties brought about by the fall, in prices,” states the committee. “Had it not been for this knowledge, . pur. suggestions may- have been of a very different character; blit we are unable to gauge when conditions may improve, nor... can we say on what level the Dominion will eventually be called to exist.” “It is riot a task that can or should be! borne by the Government, but is one that essentially, attaches itself—outside tfeb parent—to local organisations and individual citizens. FARM TRAINING FOR BOYS. After carefully, investigating the opportunities for boys in 7 town occupations, the committee declares “at no period in the history of New Zealand have commerce and industry offered. such slender chances for the absorption of boys on • completing their school life. Therefore the committee gives special attention to the possibility of absorbing boys on the land. They stress the importance of land occupations in view of New Zealand’s almost complete financial de-, pendence on returns from exported products of the land. Various organisations working for the welfare of workless boys have been able to place a number cifrvlxjy* on farms, but the committee considers something further' must be done for them in order that they may ultimately become established as farmers rather than remain farm workers. It is also desirable to establish a closer relationship between science and agriculture in New Zealand, and the committee, has discussed the problem with’leading educational- 'authorities', with -the -result that it has been able to arrange that a course of scientific agricultural training ‘be given to these boys during a portion of each year at suitable institutions, the training to be provided without any cost to the hoys and to be undertaken during the off season in farm work.. ..

jThe alleged disinclination of the city boy to ;adapt himself to land ' occupations is discussed, and the committee is able to. show from actual experience that city boys on farms are quick to learn and that they approach their work in[ a systematic manner. The committee discusses fully the educational bias which leads boys away from the land. They - note that whereas languages and mathematics in; the senior free place examination enable' a candidate to receive 400 marks for each subject, the maximum marks for chemistry, botany and agriculture are only 200. The committee suggests that the latter should carry the same pass-marks as language subjects.' LAND SETTLEMENT. *‘The time has arrived for evolving a definite land settlement scheme whereby young men who have completed a course at an agricultural college , or agricultural high school, and have obtained *. certificate of approval from such colleges or schools, and who have worked for a period of not less than two years on a farm or station and have shown by their diligence and competency that they will prove to be efficient farmers, shall be given every encouragement and facility to make gc>od and ultimately become farmers themselves, , instead of remaining farm workers, or seeking other avenues of employment,” states the report. “Such a scheme would be the means of placing on the land, a most desirable and efficient type of farmer, and would prove an incentive to boys to ehter agricultural life; thus ultimately creating a national asset which could not •be too highly assessed.” In discussing where land can be found for this purpose, the committee points out that a.very large proportion of lands now carrying sheep and beef cattle are eminently suitable for dairying, but as they are privately-owned their conversion to dairying can be left to economic pressure on the land-owner. “In the past the purchase of such privatelyowned developed Or partly developed lands by the Government for closer settlement necessarily called for heavy capital payments,”, says the committee. "At the present time the Dominion. requires a scheme of land settlement which aims at the development and bringing in of land which is now undeveloped and unproductive, or only partially developed and perhaps retrogressing. Such a scheme has a twofold benefit in that it will provide immediately employment for the greatest number, and later settle and render productive land which at present is not adding to the Dominion’s wealth. Under existing economic conditions land may be developed at costs which should enable it to pay its way al present price levels.” The. committee suggests that a considerable number of areas of Crown land suitable for such a scheme can be found amongst the idle lands of the Crown, if a stocktaking were made by men of vision and experience. LAND 'TN THE ROUGH.” "The type of settlement which appears to be most likely to prove a success under existing conditions is one which takes the land in the rough, that is, in a wholly undeveloped state, and then under proper direction and supervision develops, stocks and settles it with men who have been trained in farming and found efficient during the various proeefoes - of deyelppigent,” continues the

committee. “Sufficient areas of suitable land being available for development and settlement, experts could be requisitioned to -prepare ■a\ plan • of work with the estimates ■ of cost of bringing the land to production and to lay out the work from time to time, say, twelve months in advance, taking,- the farming year from July 1 to June 30. The labour to be' employed on the development work should be recruited from suitable youths who have completed their technical training in an agricultural college, or farm of instruction, or who . have shown a partiality and aptitude - for farming by their practical experience on a farm, or in the secondary school, agricultural school, or farm of- instruction.- A selection of suitable youths should not present any great difficulties/ and apy those not proving satisfactory or efficient during the progress? of development could be discharged ,as occasion required.”:";’ ’ . It is suggested that the farm education of selected youths after six or nine months of practical farm work could be supplemented by transfer to an agricultural college or farm of instruction where they would receive-a short course of technical training. These boys would be replaced by. a similar, number of fresh youths placed’ on the i areas under development; these in turn would go forward for'"technical training .and; their places again taken by the boys who fed originally been sent to the Agricultural College. The boys could be paid a minimum. wage for their. sustenance during the work period and either a sipall proportion of their wages deferred and accumulated for their maintenance during 'the training period, or a bonus be given them at the end of the .work period where conduct and progress merit “The method assumes - that Crown lands would be used, and that the selected youths would eventually be settled on the' lands developed by ' them. The, cost of- development, settlement _and stocking would be a charge on the land and the amount of the charge recouped as explained-below.- The Lands, for Settlement Account is the natural source from which the cost should be found. Possibly, in suitable cases, the_ cost could be subsidised from the , Unemployment Fund,, as for instance, m the cost of post and batten-splitting which could be done by unemployed workers. This would be reproductive work and a'proper and suitable use of . such funds. Where ■ certain classes of work (drainage, etc.), could be.more. appropriately and effectively undertaken by; adult jelief labour, there could.be co-operation with the Unemployment Board.”

WORKING IMPROVED SECTIONS. The committee considers that generally no labour should be employed except that of youths selected as potential settlers. “Allotments should not exceed 75 acres in any case, and if the quality of the land permits the area should be in the vicinity of 60 acres for preference- When arriving at the stage of development at which production may be commenced, • the selected youths should be allotted to definite sections as farm workmen in charge of the sections, and still be paid a wage. Each section should be run for, say, a year on a trading basis, and any profit earned over working expenses, interest and depreciation, should, be credited to the capital cost of the section. This system enables the selected settler, to be further trained and proved. Circumstances may suggest a further year of probation on a wage, but on the other hand, certain settlers may be considered sufficiently advanced to.be permitted to become sharemilkers on . their allotments, and profits applied as above. The period of sharemilking should ordinarily occupy two years, after which, if the settler has satisfied the authorities, of his efficiency and fitness for farming he could be allotted his section at capital cost, and interest and principal recovered through the dairy company per medium of the cream cheques. “guring xegaym«rt pf the cost of de-

velopment, the settler should be given a license to occupy the stock (live and dead) covered by a bill of safe or bailment; all alienation of . sections/prohibited and no.. settler permitted to sell his right erf occupation. Wfen repayments are completed, provision-should be made for. enabling .tiie occupier 'to obtain the freehold of the lan'd* occupied by him. Should any settler desire to retire from his section, or should he prove unsuitable in any way, the ; improvements and the stock: would be. - valued-; aiid the Crown would pay to-.the settler the amount-,to which he would be entitled, which would be normally the difference between the, valuation of his . improvements and the existing dpbt on the land. The section would then revert to the Crown arid again be available for settlement. . “Side-lines, such as poultry-raising, bee-keeping, certified seed-raising, ’ orchard developihent, should be encouraged, and pig-rearing should-be insisted upon.” The committee suggests that advisory committees ’'of suitable, departmental officers should supervise the land development, , select theland arid the youths, and plan the gerieral outline of development , COMMUNITY-EFFORT. “We have aimed at ideas, plans and resources in order to. achieve the maximum efficiency of co-ordina-tion,” states the report, which throughout stresses that all - the. recommendations involve the willing co-operation not only of those voluntary organisations already dealing with the problem, but reinforcement of their efforts ?by greater numbers , of public-spirited citizens.

The report recommends that in each, centre where the problem; exists.' there shall be established a general council representing the citizens arid. representative of all; interests, arid dealing .with matters of policy,; and .extension of: activities. Working in close association with the General Council should be an executive committee consisting of the. convenors of ■ sub-committees .■ which ?;Will undertake special duties, the conveners thus co-ordinating all activities. ‘ The activities of the sub-committees should cover (1) Physical development; (2)7 general educational development; (3) vocational and pre-vocatipnal development; (4) athletic development;; (5), social development.