NO LUXURIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 939, 8 December 1933, Page 5

NO LUXURIES.

Labourer Entitled Only to Necessities. A WELLINGTON REPORT. The dictum that the unskilled labourer is not entitled under a natural law or under the principles of justice to the luxuries of life but to little more than the barest necessities, is contained in the findings of a special committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which was set up recently to consider a report from the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association regarding the question of youth employment in New Zealand. The document was tabled at the meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening, but was not read to the members, the secretary stating that it could be seen by any member of the Council interested in the subject. The Wellington committee stated that it did not agree with the view that the State should accept responsibility for finding employment or occupations for youths, but inclined to the opinion of Messrs S. G. Smith and A. E. Ansel], M.P.’s, in their Parliamentary report, that it was not a task that should be borne by the Government but was one that essentially attached itself (outside the parent) to local organisations and individual citizens. In the opinion of the committee the creation of a national advisory council would not be an effective means of overcoming the problem. It was suggested that if the Government relaxed some of the present restrictions on the employment of juveniles more might be found positions, but before making any such suggestions due consideration should be given to each restriction. The committee viewed with grave alarm the undercurrent of thought permeating the report that the State, through the technical schools, should further relieve parents of their responsibilities in the supervision of adolescents. Agreement with the view in the report that neither the Shops and Offices Act, nor the Apprentices Act, as at present constituted, were working in the interests of youths seeking

employment and training for their future life work, was expressed by the committee.

Objection to the suggestion that the school leaving age should be raised to fifteen was expressed by the committee, which stated that it was felt that, speaking generally, the children of unenlightened parents would not gain benefit from a longer period at school and it was a matter for serious consideration whether, after passing the fourth standard, children of but moderate mental development should not be definitely prepared for the type of work to which their mental capacity and natural ability made them best suited. It might be that further education along general lines would not fit them for the modest role nature intended them to play in life. The committee expressed ciation of the work of the technical schools as at. present constituted, stating that they were performing a service of inestimable value to the community in training youths for their life work. “The Untutored Savage.” It was a matter for consideration, stated the committee, whether the view should not be definitely placed before boys that the unskilled labourer was not entitled either under a natural law or under the principles of justice to the luxuries of life, but to little more than the barest necessities; that comfort, ease and luxury in life should be regarded as the reward of skill or special industry—-not as a right. All the amenities of life which people possessed over the bare and precarious existence which the untutored and undisciplined savage scraped from an unwilling 'earth were the product of special skill and industry on the part of the individuals of past and present generations and should not be regarded. as an inheritance to be enjoyed free by the unworthy. It was often publicly suggested that because the earth was capable of providing plenty and luxury for all, the State should distribute plenty and luxury for all. In the opinion of the committee, unless in their social and industrial state, sharp distinction was made between the worthy and the unworthy, as was done by the natural laws if left to work their purposes unhindered by man, grave evils must eventually result to the whole community.