WORKLESS YOUTH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 286, 28 July 1932, Page 5

WORKLESS YOUTH

(Press Assn.-

MEMBERS MAKE START UPON INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM

-By Telegraph — Copyright)

AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The preliminary results of their investigations on behalf of the Government into the problem of unemploy-me-nt amoxxg youths were reviewed to-day by Messrs A. E. Ansell and S. G. Smith, M.'sP. They said that they had everywhere encountered a keen desire- for

district committees and willingness to follow any lead given. In both Christchurch and Dunedin effective organisation existed, and the Christchurch committee in addition had whol e-hearte dly un dertaken the task of plaeing- boys on

farms. That scheme had proved more popular in Canterbury than anywlxere else, and 54 boys had been placed on farnxs in five xnonths. In Dunedin 100 boys had intixxxated their willingness for farm woxk. In Invercargill 45 boys had been placed, and in Wellington 75 boys had been placed on farms and 60 in the city. Palmerston North was plaeing 35 boys, Hamilton had placed 75, Gisborne 50, axxd in New Plymouth, as a temporary expedient, a co-opera-tive kindling wood enterprise and a message bureau had been established. The members said that when they asked city employers to engage more boys they met with the complaint that though willing, the employers were hampered hy the Apprentices' Act, the Factories Act, and the Shops and Offices' Act, and that these laws should be modified. The members were anxious to obtain eoncrete evidence for and against this proposal. Steps are being taken to explore tlxe possibility of creating work suitable for youths, including the manufacturing of such articles as school rulers, of which 8000 are used weekly. The committee in Christchurch is inquiring into the possible extension of this idea. So far there has been a most satisfactory response by the public to the xnembers' efforts.