FINDING WORK FOR BOYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 12 January 1931, Page 8

FINDING WORK FOR BOYS

Y.M.C.A.’S EXPERIENCE

REQUESTS FROM EMPLOYERS Interesting and optimistic comments on the present trade depression and employment problem were made by Mr G. M. Keys, secretary to the Vocational Guidance' Department of the Christchurch Y.M.C.A., in an interview with a “Press” reporter. “So far I have b®en agreeably surprised,” said MiKeys, “by the number of requests for boys that have come to me from employers. My department has been at Work only for about a fortnight altogether his season, and in that time six or seven boys have been placed satisfactorily. That number may not seem very impressive, but considering the times and the fact of the holidays, I am very pleased with it.” Mr Keys remarked that tradesmen s jobs were scarce. Only one of those positions found by him for boys had been in a trade. Some had been office positions, while the rest had been in work leading to junior sales clerkships in retail firms. “I’m not able to speak of the future, of course,” _ Mr Keys remarked, ‘,‘liut my impression is that the times arc not nearly as bad as people think. The depression makes my work more difficult undoubtedly, but I’m feeling a good deal more optimistic than I was when I began, In previous years, working until about a fortnight after the end of the holidays, I have succeeded .in placing from about thirty to about sixty boys. We may not be so successful this year—l don t know—but already I’ve bad fifty boys in asking for my help. #

MORE BOYS WANTING HELP

“I think I shall get far more boys this year than ever before,” Mr Keys continued. “After all, it is only natural that/ 1 should—one must face the fact that there are far more boys needing my help this year. In past years it is only about now that they have begun, to come to me, but, as I say, Ive already had fifty in. In the past we have usually taken steps to communicate with the parents of boys who have left school, but so far' this year we haven’t done that—it obviously hasn t been necessary. “Of course every boy doosn u eoiue in looking for work,” went on MiKeys. “There are many from primary .schools. who are thinking of going on to secondary schools and who come lor advice whether they should do so or not, and what courses they should take. Then people come to me and say, f want Johnny to go on to a secondary school,” but they haven’t the slightest idea what they ought to do about it or what courses their Johnny ought to take. ' ALL CLASSES OF BOYS “I get all kinds of bovs coming to me for advice,” added Mr Keys, from bovs who have been in the lower standards of tlm primary schools to boys who have passed matriculation, who hold higher leaving certificates, and who have done preliminary work for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce. Moreover, I have had boys, in the five years [ have been working from every primary and secondary school, both public and private, in-Christchurch. POLICY OF EMPLOYERS Mr Keys remarked that lie had found among many employers the feeling t a. it was good' policy to force an opening, if necessary, for clever boys. I think it is a very short-sighted policy, he said, “to cease taking on hoys because of -the hard times. In the trades, particularly, where are they going to be in five years’ time if they ceaso talong o apprentices?” Mr Keys added that lie knew of one or two employers who weie eligible to employ additional apprentices. but who were not doing so. “I think that the number of requests for boys that have come in from employers shows that the bad times are passing,” said Mr Keys m cone usion. “I honestly don’t think that the depression is nearly as serious as many people think.” ’