The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1952. WORK LESS YOUTHS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1952. WORK LESS YOUTHS.

Ihe question of finding work for lads who are leaving school lias been receiving careful consideration a-1 over New Zealand, it being recognised that tnis phase of the unemployment question wae one of the most serious of the whole trouble. In tins connection much good work has been effected by the boys employment committee sot up in Christchurch ,and at the annual meeting of that body held recently the report submitted to a very representative attendance stated the growing problem of employment for tne hundreds of boys leaving school at the end of 1931 gave the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce some concern, land at its monthly meeting in September, 1931, it set up a Beys’ Employment Committee from its members, giving authority fer co-operating of representatives of other | organisations in touch with the /prob--1 lein. There was at once a ready support from these other organisations, who welcomed the lead given. During the year the Government appointed two members of Parliament, Messrs S. G. Smith and A. E. An^ell,. to investigate the whole problem of youth unemployment throughout- the Dominion. At various timers during the year the committee has been in contact with these gentlemen, discussing phases of the problem and giving the experiences of the committee. We look forward to this report being issued shortly, and are hopeful that it will lead to- more effective steps for meeting the needs of the coming year. The twin probationer scheme, ably expounded to the committee by Dr. C. E. Bee by, seems. ;*to offer a reasonable' organised method of dealing with the youth employment problem on a national scale, and ‘ provides for limiting the employment of boys under 16 years of age in industrial and commercial' occupations to one-half of their time and providing for them educationally for the remaining half. We hope that the reference of the scheme to the Government will have valuable results. We consider, it fortunate that for the past year we have not had our energies diverted to the carrying out of a farm scheme, Many of us weye attracted by proposals to that end at the beginning of the year, but ias things have worked out the placing of boys direct into the farms, with the aid of the Unemployment Board’s subsidy, has been more effective, dealing with many more boys without excessive expense. It is greatly to be regretted that we do not see any alleviation of the problem, and in 1933 it would appear that the work of the incoming committee will bo just as great and as important as in the past year. Probably the need will force it 'to greater effort and marie extensive organisation. Certainly, the year now passing has given a fund of experience for guidance, and we trust that because of this the work of next year will be more effective. We believe we fere entitled to look upon the- work of the year as successful. Certainly ranch has been accomplished, and this hhs been due to a happy combination of forces, in which we have been singularly fortunfete. The need for the movement is in no way abated, and the extension of the movement so capably carried out in the East Coast centre would prove of decided use and value to the many young people who are in such serious predicament at the outset of their life career.