Large Deputation.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 925, 21 November 1933, Page 8

Large Deputation.

Unemployed Youth.

Will Wait Upon Prime Minister. 'J'O EMPHASISE the urgent necessity for providing socially, mentally and materially for the thousands of young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty w r ho are out of work, a Dominionwide deputation is to be organised to wait on the Prime Minister (the Right Hon G. \V. Forbes) and the Minister of Education (the Hon R. Masters) next week. This decision was come to when a deputation of members of the Boys’ Employment Committee waited upon the Canterbury Members of Parliament and decided to adopt the suggestion of Mr D. G. Sullivan. Members of Parliament present were

Members of Parliament present were Messrs D. G. Sullivan (Avon), H. T. Armstrong (East Christchurch) and Mrs E. R. M’Combs (Lyttelton). An apology for absence was received from Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton). Price of Inactivity.

It is not a question whether the countfy can afford it. It is a question whether it can afford not to do it,” declared Mr Armstrong, in replying to the xAembers. “I am impressed with the danger to the nation, and I feel that we must do more to make New Zealand self-contained. U nfortunately for the Dominion, a great percentage of Parliamentarians can think only in terms of beef and butterfat and the market on the other side of the world.” The chairman (Mr M. E. Lyons) said that the committee wished members of Parliament to bring pressure to bear on the Minister of Education. The committee had been in operation for some years and had done a good deal to help boys to avenues of employment and to an interest in life. Unemployment among boys was a menace to the community. The report on continuation classes was the unanimous feeling of the committee, which believed that something along those lines should, with State aid, be carried out. The Minister’s repljf’could not be regarded as sympathetic; m fact, stronger adjectives had been applied to it. Committee’s Recommendations. Outlining the committe’s report, Mr S. R. Evison said that that body was con. cerned with boys of between fifteen and twenty years, for whom no provision was made. Compulsory attendance at continuation classes of those boys who were receiving no vocational training or were not attending classes at the Technical College or at the Y.M.C.A.. was advocated, those boys to be given % constructive, physical and cultural training. The .staffing of the classes would be by experts, and compulsion would give a guarantee of steady attendance. It was recommended that boys on constructional work should be paid a small sum weekly. The alternatives were outlined, it being urged that the school-leaving age should be raised for one year to fifteen, and that half-time education lor two years be provided between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. The non-partisan nature of - the committee was stressed by Mr I. Sladen, who said that members of all shades of poetical opinion were unanimous in their present advocacy. The boys, who were as good as any others, must have some form of continuation classes. , Over 600 With No Work. The present position was cited by Mr G. M. Keys, organiser for the committee. He said that 1434 boys had registered this year up to September 30, and that figure was now about 1600. A total of 488 had been placed in permanent employment and 331 in temporary work, making a total of 810. That left just over 600 boys not yet placed, and 300 more were in temporary positions. Of those, 223 still attended day school and about 100 more were attending night classes. This was at a time when one would expect the figures to be the least serious. In another two months the position would be much more serious. The British Government was considering the introduction of training centres for boys.

The raising of the school age gradually was being considered by the British Government, said Mr L. F. de Berry, who spoke on behalf of the v schools. He said that the boys’ need was greater than that of adults, because the problem to-day was the building of citizens. It would be less costly if New Zealand adopted something like the proposed British scheme than undertook rehabilitation of the young people when they had lost their morale through no work. “It would appear that the Government has escaped without very strong criticism in this grave problem,” stated Mr J. S. Barnett. “ The Minister has removed from the Lower House and is not so easy to get at.” The speaker declared that the boys’ minds would receive invaluable training at the continuation classes. “ Meaningless lives.”

Dr C. E. Beeby: We are continually coming across the question of money, money, money. For a matter of a few hundred pounds we could probably get a training centre in Chyistchurch. At present the boys’ lives are as formless and meaningless as an unset jelly. If the Govern-, ment will allow us to use the craftsmen on the No. 5 scheme and the rationed school teachers, we will take the responsibility. The committee feels that its usefulness is dwindling because of the rebuffs it is getting, and we cannot do much more without the help of the Government. Messrs F. L. Hutchinson, president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, A. J. M’Eldowney, general secretary of the Y.M.C.A., and the Rev R. de Lambert also spoke. Mr Hutchinson urged the development of secondary industries as a means of absorbing unemployed boys. Mr M’Eldowney declared his doubts whether the Minister of Education, who had treat, ed the report with contempt,” had considered the problem to any extent, and Mr de Lambert said that the whole Christian community was behind the committee in its work.