JUVENILE EMPLOYMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22149, 2 October 1935, Page 2

JUVENILE EMPLOYMENT

LOCAL EFFORTS TO PLAGE YOUTHS NO LACK OF COUNTRY WORK During the month of September, according to Mr T. Conly, vocational guidance officer, 47 boys in Dunedin were placed in jobs. Of that number 11 were found employment in trades, and 10 secured factory work. Only five youths were sent to farm work. There was no lack of country work offering at present, especially for boys with some previous experience, said Mr Conly, who regretted, however, that there were still complaints in respect to food and accommodation in some places. Every effort was made to ascertain the condition on a farm before sending a boy to any country place, yet some farms were found to be far from satisfactory, and such farmers could not complain if they had any difficulty in retaining their employees. At the same time it was pleasing to know that most young boys going out to country work were more than satisfied with the living conditions. ' Although not as plentiful ns twelve months ago, shop work for girls was increasing. It was pleasing to record that shopkeepers were more and more appreciating _ the service offered by the association in securing for them the right class of girl free from patronage and customers’ influence. Girls’ work generally was not offering as freely as it was 12 months ago, but 21 girls had been placed in positions during the past month, and of these some secured really worth-while employment. Shorthand typists seeking work were not plentiful at present, but it was expected that .there would be many on the market after the Government examinations in November, the majority of the students in the schools preferring to stay there in the meantime.

Of the positions secured during the past month Mr Conly instanced several unusual jobs. In some cases they were not always appreciated nor taken, and it was emphasised by the vocational officer that it was often the unusual and specialised job that gave the best reward in adult life. One was for process printing, a highly technical and difficult occupation. _ Another was for a j boy to bo trained in the manufacture of plaster figures, such as are used' in shop windows to display gowns and hats, an industry which has rapidly developed locally. Only yesterday a position was secured for a boy to be trained as an industrial chemist. ...The opening was offered to several youths deemed suitablo according to their school and other records, and only two were really i interested. Although there were youths anxious to become clerks, warehousemen, and stock sheet keepers, it was strange that so few were willing to venture on the unusual and specialised occupations. Another noticeable feature had been the poor physique of many boys seeking work; they were fit for nothing but the very lightest work. In response to an advertisement seeking boys suitable for j factory work, it was noticed that out of six replies, four boys were not more than five feet high, far too short for most factorv jobs. Tlig association was now turning its attention to the plight, of older y_xmth who lost their opportunities for training during the depression. An advertisement brought in only 15 replies, yet ifc- 1 was thought tha,t there must be many more in this position, and association wanted to get in touch with them as soon as possible. A census of these youths and their capabilities was required before a scheme could be formulated to give them an opportunity to learn a skilled calling.,