BOYS AND WORK.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1925, Page 4

BOYS AND WORK.

ISOAIE OF THE PROBLEMS. ACCEL .VXD. June 20. “f think it is time people began to give consideration to the problems which are arising out of our democratic. perhaps even socialistic, developments,’-’ said tho headmaster of the Dilworth Institute, .Mr Noel Gibson, at the annual re-union of old boys on Saturday, in referring to the Apprentices Act and it> application to boys seeking positions after leaving school. ‘•Deinoeratie legislation lias been pul through without full realisation n! the results which have come from it.” said Air Gibson. “If our young people have to leave school, as the vast juniority have, al the age ol fifteen, take a year or two to look round, and then find at the age of 17 or 18 that the avenue is closed to the particular work to which they are

most fitted, then so far from getting rid of s(|iiare pegs in round holes we are going to increase their numbers.” Alany employers, continued Air Gib son, would he willing to take a boy on for a year’s probation, but the lawprecluded this. This difficulty about hoys obtaining apprenticeships was a very serious matter socially for the whole country, lie advised those who were seeking positions as apprentices to move as soon as possible. He wanted to throw out a warning in that regulations had been introduced recently whereby not only in apprenticeship trades, but also in banking and warehouse services, the law bad definitely laid down a scale of wages and emolument according to the ago j of the employee.

Few boys at ibe age of fifteen, continued the speaker, really ki'.'st their own minds as to what; work they wanted to undertake. Pi.'v went to

one position, and, after be : tg there, say, two years, they realis'd ihi'-e was something they liked letter. Tins was a perfectly normal and healthy state of affairs. Recently more than one boy so placed liacl come under his notice, and, casting about to take his place in another branch of industry, had been disappointed. The case of a hoy of eighteen who wanted to join the staff of a bank was cited by the speaker. Everything was in his fn-

vour, but the manager bad intimated his inabiltv to take him on the staff. By the time lie was twenty years of age the manager had said he would have to pay him a wage which no hank clerk was worthy of after two years’ service. The same work could be done hv paying someone else half the salary. No Isonrd of directors would allow him to nay a hoy of eighteen a salary for doing work which a hoy of fifteen could do, said the manager of a warehouse in another in-

stance quoted. “It simply means that when you first leave school and think the work you have undertaken is not the best you want to he very quick indeed in making up your minds,” concluded Mr Gibson. “You will find the years slip by in work which does not suit you. It is not your fault; you do not know at fifteen what you want to do. I do think the youth of this country is up against a very serious problem. Aon have more or less got to shape yourselves to the job most suited to von. but that does not get away from the problem.”