SCARCITY OF JUVENILE LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 6

SCARCITY OF JUVENILE LABOUR.

. o-—.— CAUSE AND REMEDY. " (By Telegraph.—Snccial Correspondent.) Gliristchurch, May 15. The complaint of an Auckland industrial association regarding the difficulty of gelling young men to take employment in local industries is echoed by a number of ChrJstchurch employers. Mr. J. A. I-'rostick, chairman of tho Employers' Association, said it was-almost impossible to obtain juvenile labour either male or female in the industries, and this applied almost in -the samo degree to office work. If the supply was not ecpial to the demand their proper facilities should be provided for increasing the number of those available lor employment by immigration under proper safeguards, because the healthy maintenance of our industries was a national duty. The question of proper training should not bo left to tho indilference of the parents, nor to tho disinclination of the boys themselves to go to work. It was just as necessary for the Government to see that every boy was properly trained for earning his living as it was for the Government truant officer to sec that boys attended the primary schools. The weak spot in the educational system was, ho considered, that as far as the Government was concerned, boys were turned adrift as soon as they left, school. "1 am not much in favour of Royal Commissions," said Mr. Frcstick, "but sufficient evidence in this case has been forthcoming during the last fewyears to'warrant the expenditure of public money in ascertaining (he facts of this important question, and the suggestion of a remedy." Mr. F. E. Jones, president, of tho Chamber of Commerce, said that during the past five or ten years there had becit a marked decrease in the number of boys coming.forward lo enter business houses. The reason, he believed, was to be found in the fluctuation of the birth-rate. At present, the tendency appeared to be on the up grade, and this might show its effect in a year or two.