BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1948 YOUTH HOSTEL NEEDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 13, 16 January 1948, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1948 YOUTH HOSTEL NEEDED

At the start of any new year, there are always openings for young people in any business community, and the opportunities are particularly attractive in a progressive town such as Whakatane. But there is a dearth of juniors for the positions offering. Possibly one factor that is peculiar to this year is the infantile paralysis epidemic. There may be a reluctance on the part of parents to let youngsters go out to retail shops and large offices where they are likely to mix with the public to any great extent, but that applies really to the younger groups. The greatest demand is for girls and youths of 16 years of age and over. Of that class of potential worker there seems to be a serious shortage locally, for many reasons, which probably include the fact that the business of the town is fast outgrowing its accommodation capacity. That means that the acute housing shortage, emphasised here by the rapid business progress the place is making, is probably keeping away families who would otherwise establish themselves here, and whose younger members would be prepared, and would no doubt prefer, to start their own careers near home.

In the absence of sufficient local juniors, this town must look elsewhere to fill the gaps, and it can do so with confidence that it has a very attractive proposition to offer. This is a town with tremendous progressive potential. Its advancement has been and will be fast. Any junior starting here probably has a better chance of quick advancement in a town which is itself advancing quickly than in some backwater with little chance of commercial expansion. But, though Whakatane can with some justice represent itself as the promised land to youngsters with ideas and ambition, its accommodation problem is a serious (Obstacle to attracting enough of the right type from other districts. Private board is rare and fairly expensive. Though there are two splendid hotels, their tariffs are quite beyond the reach of juniors. It has been suggested that it might be possible to establish a youth hostel here, and that idea seems to have merit.

It is a matter that might well be taken up by the Chamber of Commerce, who could perhaps put a proposition before business houses, banks, Government Departments and any other enterprises which are likely to need the services of young people. There would probably be difficulty about a building, but if there is none available, the case for erecting one should be strong. It can be claimed that the housing shortage, by keeping family men away, creates an abnormal demand for those who are young and unattached. There should be sympathetic consideration from the Government, which would no doubt welcome the scheme as a help to the junior officers of its own departments. At present there are a number of business houses and other enterprises in this town subsidising expensive board that juniors cannot afford on their normal wages. They would doubtless welcome the cash saving that could be achieved by diverting a portion of that money to a scheme such as the one here suggested, which, if not entirely self-supporting from the outset, would no doubt very soon become so.