YOUNG EX-SERVICEMEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 23, 13 November 1945, Page 7

YOUNG EX-SERVICEMEN

PROBLEM OF •'EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLDS"

BOARD'S PREPARATIONS

What has come to be known as "the problem of the eighteen year olds" is discttssed in. a statement from the Rehabilitation Board. "These young men" says the state ment ) "who have in a great many cases never had a chance to establish themselves in a trade or occupation are a special concern of the Board. It is not only important to the men themselves but to the country as a whole that their problem receives more than usual considera. ion." ; "It was with this realisation that the Board formulated its trade training schemes and also sought— successfully—to protect apprenticeships which had not expired' before enlistment with, the forces. Today

the Board's occupational and trade training schemes, are ready to absorb these men, according to their suitability and the potentialities of the occupation they wish to follow. At the Board's training centres they may learn to become skilled building tradesmen and receive a fair

living wage while they learn under expert instruction. Should some other worthwhile occupation appeal to them there are more than 160 different trades and vocations in which the Board is prepared to subsidise and the list is daily growing. They may also should they wish } train to become efficient

farmers on a subsidy arrangement or at up to date training farms. Later when they get their certificates they will have the chance of

taking over a I'arm of their own. There are besides educational facili. ties and. in some cases examination concessions lor the time they have spent in the services. "ft is however in the field of •* J trades and skilled vocations that the most promising openings lie. Ineluded in these is the large range of semi professional or career occupations and soon it is hoped to include student accountants, law .clerks surveyors and

architects in the list of those whose wages may be subsidised under the Board's special arrangements. Much Depends on Man

'"Much can be done by the State but both the community and the man himself must help if the problem is to be .satisfactorily solved. Where members of the community particularly the business cominunity } are prepared to give practical help when they it is relatively easier. It has to be remembered that numbers of these men have been receiving salaries while in the services out of proportion to their civilian or prospects; most, have been on modest service but have given little serious consideration, to their postservice future. If they themselves are prepared to co.operate their problem will be the more easily solved. An employer can for instance find a the Rehabilitation Board can if necessary subsidise and make sure that adequate train, ing is given; but the rest is up to the man himself. So far there has been almost 100 per cent, success: both in co-operation from emploj-ers and servicemen trainees alike." Anovther Agfe Group The statement makes a comparison of the case of the 18 year olds with that of the men who were 18 year olds in the midst of the last depression. Many of these men through economic circumstances were unable to learn a skilled trade or occupation. Many became labourers not because they wanted to; others were just beginning to learn a skilled job when the war came along and upset their plans. Today they have readied the ;30 to 85 age group. Their depression and war experiences be-* hind them, they are in many cases making a completely fresh r.tart. Numbers of them are learning .building trades at the Board's centres and are finding their more mature age an assistance rather than a handicap . "That opportunity is open to the young ex-servicemen -as avcll as to the more mature," adds the statement. "It is an opportunity of which they should avail themselves as early as possible and the first step is to call at their local rehabilitation office or interview a member of their rehabilitation commit. • tee."