JUVENILE EMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 103, 25 January 1919, Page 3

JUVENILE EMPLOYMENT

WHAT OF THE YOUNG WARWORKERS? In view, of-widespread distress and donioralisatioii that would bo likely to arise if tho matiy boys and. girls under eighteen who, during the war, have been engaged in industry were thrown Haphazard on to the labour market, tho Minister, of Reconstruction, Dr. Addison, about a year ago caused an ex-, tensive inquiry to be undertaken to ascertain the conditions of juvenile employment during the war. a:if 7 the probable conditions after the war (states the, "Hoard of Trade Journal" for December). Fully 3000 .reports, made either by special investigators visiting firms employing young people, or directly by employers themselves, were considered, and a report based on this material and recommending bow the juvenile labour problem should be dealt with is now issued,by the Ministry. After describing the ver.y great demand there has been for juvenile labour, the disproportionately high wages which this labour lias earned and the long hours frequently worked, tho report makes no hesitation in describing the effects of these' war conditions upon the young people themselves as misohievous and demoralising. It goes on to urge that, though these mischievous effects wrought unon the rising generation of the last four years cannot be effaced, they need not be intensified. A scheme is recommended, the general principle of which is briefly to ensure that all boys and girls thrown out of work on the return of pence should be maintained in positions which would nrevent them from being demoralised bv nnemnloyment, improve their phvsini"> fb»ir chnr-icter, and industrial qualifications, and prepare thpm to return to industry as soon as there are suitable openinss. ' It is suwested thot eertre° for.uneirWnvo'l bov<s and girls should be established nil +oi""i w'+b n pnTnilntin n of morp than 20.000. Thev should bo rnnnnsed bv committees dnjwr. fron the local "duen'tion authorities; the Juvenile Emnlovmeiit Oemiritt"e.. trade nn'ons and emnlnvers' nswiotiovis p"d ntVev orff.'mir.njjoiic oerreree'l wif> th" "-elf"rn of vnllnrr Tllov shelilrl h'« finnneed from national, not local, sources.