WORKLESS YOUTHS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19629, 16 July 1935, Page 10

WORKLESS YOUTHS

A GROWING PROBLEM

MENACE TO COUNTRY’S WELFARE.

MANUFACTURERS’ VIEWS

“A problem that is rapidly growing into a menace to- the future -welfare of our country” was how the question of unemployment among youths was described in a special report presented by the Development of Industries Committee of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association at a recent meeting of the executive of the -association. The report was sent forward to similar bodies and to the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, which ■will also consider it.

V. Tho main suggestions were that apprenticeship laws in each trade "should .. be remodelled, that youths with special.“aptitude should he given suitable preliminary training, that those in non-permanent positions should also be given subsidiary vocational training, that the compulsory school leaving age should be lb years, and the extension of technical education. National Effort Necessary.

The report slated that no group of business people in New Zealand had done more than the manufacturers •themselves to try to place young men and women into permanent positions. Yet it had to be realised that manufacturers themselves were being pressed closely on all sides by adverse conditions of trade. No employer in ■these times could afford to have any wastage of effort in his factory, and new employees could only be taken on if manufacturers knew that tins would not entail loss.

It therefore had to be realised that the problem could only -be solved or bettered by a national effort. “It must not, however, be overlooked that the suggestions we make are only for a partial solution,” continued the report. “The real solution probably lies in the realms of a complete national -scheme'of employment organisation, of a shorter working week, and of an improvement in our financial system. These, however, are •matters we do not feel justified in debating in this report.

Apprenticeship Laws.

“It is at once admitted that remedial changes have taken place in a number of trades in apprenticeship •conditions, but even so there are many industries in New Zealand in which such conditions are an effective bar against the employment of a considerable number of youths. Over the depression years apprenticeship contracts have proved themselves costly and onerous to such an extent that many employers have been chary of entering into -any .more than they can help.

.“Also, mechanisation ! • enabled many industries to reduce die time necessary to learn a trade. Therefore, it is time that apprenticeship laws in each- trade should be remodelled, with the idea of reducing the period of apprenticeship where necessary; and, further, some opportunity -should be given to manufacturers .to modify the terms of the contract at a time of trading difficulties. "At the same time, no employer should toe-given the opportunity of replacing adult workers by younger men.

“The ages 14 to 16 arc the ones iwhich give the least reason for worry, as apparently boys in this group line) it a relatively easy matter to gain Employment. In many cases, however, the positions they And are blindalley ones, the figure being estimated In the Geneva report at 70 per cent. From the age 18 upward the real problem arises, as a youth finds it Very difficult indeed to gain cmployjnent at this period of his life.

“Most Serious Difficulty.”

“The group ages 19 to 25 presents (the most serious difficulties. It consists of young men and youths who have either not been able to get work at all or have been in intermittent jobs which they have lost. A number of occupations in which boys first find themselves cannot by their very nature be continued beyond the age of 18. At this period it is very difficult for a young man to become apprenticed to ;i trade or to find other work of a permanent nature showing a wage return commensurate with his ■years. .While a number of people in i:thi§;group are on relief works of nonpermanenl character, Ihc younger ones either live on their families or on the .'Community.

“Future groups of the ages .19 to 25 will automatically adjust themselves. '!'hc present group, however, needs immediate assistance. Particularly from among the younger men there should be chosen a substantial number with aptitude for certain industries who •should lie taken in hand and given a preliminary training suitable to these industries. They should then be apprenticed to firms in those Industries under a special subsidised apprenticeship scheme of limited duration. The balance, consisting of other young men suitable for work other than labouring, should he encouraged to attend vocational schools.

A Safeguard

i “Allied with this suggestion is the ' further one that young men at present i in non-permanent positions should ; also be given some subsidiary vocational training lo prevent them from joining Iho ranks of ihc unskilled unemployed at a later date.

"It was ihc general opinion of Ihc committee that 1 lie compulsory school leaving age should be 16 years. On leaving primary school every child should be given either secondary nr technical education of a more comprehensive nature than at present in New Zealand.”