BOY EMPLOYMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 10

BOY EMPLOYMENT

STUDY FOll PUPILS

GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS

"The Government has not deprived boys and girls of educational facilities. On the contrary, liberal treatment has been afforded them in many ways, and in cases where they have been unable to find employment ehildrcn have been encouraged to return to school and continue their studies rather than idle their time about the streets," stated the Minister of Education (the Hon. B. Masters), in the course of an interview today on the subject of employment for boys leaving school. Mr. Masters said he took strong exception to the- charge made against the Government that boys had been deprived of educational facilities, and were not being provided with employment. "I wish to give the statement an emphatic denial," said the Minister. "Those pupils who have completed the primary stage of their education and who cannot conveniently attend a postprimary school may be enrolled in form 111 (standard VII). Even in the cities, this may be done, and at the present time there are some 700 children in standard VII classes. "EXTREMELY LIBERAL." "Recently I announced the decision of the Government to waive the fee of 10s in respect of children of registered unemployed men who wished to sit for the intermediate examination, which qualifies for a senior free place. In addition, children who failed to qualify for'senior free places have been granted extensions if the parents were unable to pay fees, and last year this valuable concession was made in approximately 1000 cases. Again, cases of hardship have occurred in which the remission of technical school fees has been applied for and granted. This concession was first granted in 1931, and since then 70 students have been given relief. In a few instances relief workers in Christchurch have been assisted to enable them to take a course of instruction, such as wool classing. Naturally, it is not possible to grant any relief where hardship is not shown, but each case is dealt with on its merits, and in every instance sympathetic consideration is given by me personally. The efforts of my Department in assisting to place girls and boys in situations have not been relaxed, and with the wholehearted co-operation of the teachers, valuable work is being done, and. will be continued. In Wellington alone, the principals of the post-pri-mary schools have been successful in placing some 300 boys in employment since the beginning of the year, and similar results are being obtained by the schools in other parts of the Dominion. "I know it is disconcerting to find young people eager to take up employment meeting with disappointment in some cases, but while the state of affairs in professions, trades, etc., remains as at present, the problem must present difficulties and give rise to a certain amount of anxiety on the part of parents. "EXTREMELY LIBERAL." "In conclusion, I wish to stress the fact that the Government has not deprived the girls and boys of educational facilities. On the other hand, I think we have been extremely liberal in meeting the situation by giving them many valuable concessions. Moreover, there is nothing to prevent children from returning to school and continuing their studies until such time as they may be able to find employment."