WORKLESS YOUTH.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18024, 20 May 1930, Page 9

WORKLESS YOUTH.

PROBLEM IN ENGLAND

DOLE COMPLEX BLAMED.

NO WORK FOR BOYS. /

“Boys leaving school in England arc finding it practically impossible to obtain work in trades,” said Mr L. Stimpson, who' arrived at Wellington by the Rangitata in charge of a party of 28 youths who are to go to Fluck House under the Acknowledgement of Debt to British Seamen Fund Society's scheme.

The outlook for England’s younger generation seeking to enter trades was far from bright, Mr Stimpson said. There was no doubt about Britain’s ability and determination to pull through her present economic troubles, but the fact remained that conditions were bad at Home, and that there was growing up a definite antipathy to work on the part of a large section of the population. ■ This attitude was marked in various mining districts, where men were developing a “dole complex.” A man who was able to draw £.l 10s a week under the dole sytem was not prepared to work in the mines for a wage returning about £1 3s a week net after insurance and other levies had been deducted. There was being created a class which did not -desire to work, and the fact was evident in spite of the denials of many who declined to face the fact. Raising the School Age. Mr Stimpson said his home was close to a colliery and he was able to speak with first-hand knowledge of the question. England’s youth was being faced with a grave problem in securing permanent employment. There was no scope for boys leaving' school. Trades were unable to absorb them and the labour market was being glutted. This had received recognition in the raising of the schoolleaving age to 15, and an effort was being made by this means to stem the flow of youths seeking work. Certain industries were in a fairly good position, but others were suffering severely. There existed a feeling of insecurity even among men. who had held positions for 20 years or'more. Their services were being dispensed with and they were unable to find other work.

Even among the young people there was to be found a peculiar antipathy to work. , Parents who had drawn their sustenance from the mines were averse to their children embarking on new careers. It was often found that a man or woman was not keen, or absolutely forbade, a youth to take up work other than 1 mining. They argued that their parents before them had worked in the mines and that if it were good enough for them to do so, there was no reason for their son to go further afield. This was hard to understand when it was sc clear that many mines which had closed down would never reopen. This attitude- was proving -serious for the younger generation. Mr Stimpson said he was interested in Y.M.C.A. work and he had been connected with classes arranged for young people. Among them was to be found a disinclination to tackle the problem of earning a living. They were often content to rely for a livelihood on the dole. They had no earnest desire to launch out and make their way on their own initiative. A Distorted Outlook. In consequence England’s youth in many was developing a distorted view of life. The resoonsibilities of making a success of their lives were borne lightly, or even scorned. Recently, Mr Stimpson said, he had offered the position of a chef at a territorial camp to a young man who had done no work for two years. He would have been “found” and not made to work very hard. But when he heard that the weekly wage was £1 10s a week he declined the position at once, saying it was not worth his while to work at all. The Instance was not isolated.

Mr Stimpson agreed that the decline of agriculture was at the root of much of the trouble at Home. A scheme such as that under which the party of youths in his care was able to start life with a fair prospect of success provided an outlet for some who would otherwise be thrown upon an already saturated labour market. The youths in the present party were mostly drawn from England, although some came from Ireland and Scotland. He had impressed upon them during the voyage that a vista was opening before them in a new land such as would never have been revealed at Home. He believed they did appreciate the fact'that, were they forced to seek a living in England, their chances of success would be very meagre.

England’s great problem was to find work for her unemployed. The cloie was all right as a temporary relief measure, but it would not serve to right economic ills. Its continuance would be attended by a growth of the queer complex now affecting the outlook of men who were beginning to believe that work was unnecessary.