WORKLESS YOUTHS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1932, Page 3

WORKLESS YOUTHS

COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION. MANY BOYS PLACED IN WORK. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) AUCKLAND, July 27. The preliminary results of their investigations on behalf of the Government into the problem of unemployment among youths were reviewed today by Messrs Ansell, and Smith, M’s.P. They said that they had everywhere encountered a keen desire for the formation of committees, and; a willingness to follow any lead given.

Jri both Christchurch arid Dunedin effective organisations existed and to the Christchurch committee was given the task of placing boys on farms. That , scheme had proved more popular in Canterbury than anywhere else, arid fifty-four boys had been placed on farms in five months. i

In Dunedin, one hundred boys intimated their willingness for farm work. In Invercargill i’orty-five hoys had been placed, in Wellington seventylive, Gisborne seventy-five and fifty in New Plymouth. As a temporary expedient a co-operative kindling wood enterprise, and a message bureau had been established.

Members expressed the opinion that, with ( the' incentive they were'' endeavouring to provide, mainly in" regard to a limited course of scientific and agricultural education, the farm Work scheme : was likely to be ■ considerably extended within the near The evidence collected so far would show that the city youth could be rapidly turned into a successful help oh the farm, i The idea was that, for two month s ir! the dead season of the year, boys , from farms should receive training at an agricultural college. Already Lincoln. College was going to take fifty such boys. Members said that when they asked city employers to engage more hoys,, though willing, the employers were hampered by/the Apprentice Act, Factories Act, arid the Shops and Office's Act; and that these laws should be modified. Members were anxious to obtain concrete , evidence for and against this proposal. Steps are being taken to explore the possibility of creating work suitable for youths, including manufacturing .such articles 'as school rulers, of which eight thousand were used weekly.

The committee in Christchurch' is inquiring into the possible extension ot this idea. So far there has been a most satisfactory response by the public to the members’ efforts.