WORKLESS ARMY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1931, Page 2

WORKLESS ARMY

AUSTRALIAN YOUTH

QUEST FOR SOLUTION OF

PROBLEM

SYDNEY, Dec. 24

Australians have become accustomed to facing tremendous problems, but this doe snot make their solving any easier. For instance, the best brains of the country just now are unable to suggest how the country is going to find jojbs for the thousands of boys and girls who have just finished their schooling. In normal years the problem is difficult enough, but in existing circumstances its magnitude is increased fourfold. The Australian youth of to-day is faced '.with a. world entirely out of joint. In New South Wales alone the number of children who have eomnleted their primary education without any prospect of secondary education is 26,000.

<Tn Victoria, the number is at least 20,000. Their ambitions are blocked by the State of the labour market. The Minister for Ed neat-'on in New South Wales (Mr Davies) is greatly concerned. for the fears that boys Who fire idle will drift into criminal Wavs atul end tip in gaol—some of them, that Is. He has appealed to parents to allow their children, where posible, to remain for at least another year a.t school, but it is pointed out that the difficulty in another twelve months would then be greater than it is today because of the huge carry over. Owing to the ist-ate of trade many hoys who hnd been apprenticed have h-cn nut off. For the benefit of tlrse the Minister proposes to start day classes, the time spent in these classes to h-? counted as part of their apprenticeship. There are many hoys who have no desire to enter a trade or profession. They will be catered for by the establishment of cam.os. All the camps will (be in tlie country and the boys will be employed in clearing scrub lands readv for settlement. The Government would employ all the apprentices it could and it would anneal to the other employers to do likewise. Special schools would be established to train, girls in domestic science and homecraft generalhv. To the careful observer it dees not seem that these proposals will go far towards solving tlm problem. Many believe that the most practical suggestion is that the compulsory school age should be raised at least another two years. Of course, this wrlukl add .greatly to the Slates’ hill for education, which already is somewhat out of proportion to the revenue. It has be o n s-’ggcisted in Melborune that the education authorities of all the States should meet in the hope of being t'l'ile to devise some scheme that would bo pm etc cal, , , In Melbourne the extension of the school age is favoured with the provision that the Government should provide 'free all requisites. so that the extended school term would not become a burden on the parents.