SERIOUS PROBLEM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 443, 30 January 1933, Page 3

SERIOUS PROBLEM

THE CASE FOR YOUTH MOST PROMINENT BIFFXCULTY FACING AUSTRALIA TO-DAY. PITIABLE TRAGEDY. A tremendous problem, one that is even more difficult than the balancing of Budgets and the adjustment of tariffs and trade agreements, faces the Government and people of Australia to-day. It is the problem if the youngsters growing up— the eager, amhitious Youth of this great eountry, which, under modern conditions of stress, must devise some means of starting its young people in the business of getting an education. A few days ago about thirteen thousand youngsters passed the Intermediate exams. A few, years hence many of those same young people will have to sit for the Leaving Certificate, and then they will be ready for the adventure of living in the wider world of business. Will they be called upon then to step quietly into line with the thousands of other students who have already passed, ,and', methphorical/ly, starid in queues waiting, hegging and aching for the chanees that do not come, the jobs that hut few can find ? Or will the people of Australia and their rulers have waked to a realisation of the tragedy growing around them, and by eoncerted effort and sacrifice, have taken steps to avert thaf , tragedy? Australia's youth, as we know it today, is comp'osed of the finest human material the world has ever seen. To quote a retiring headmaster, who, above all, should know them well, "The Australian youth is a lovable chap." For that, it goes without saying, we must include the girls also — and then ask ourselves what many of these young ones will be lilce in a few years if something most uefinite is not done, on the largest possible scale, to reassure them as to their future. They have grown up rightly believing and expecting that the end of schooling would mean the beginning of a useful career. They have worlced hard for that, and their parents have been taxed heavily for it; therefore the eountry owes it to both parents and children to see that the promise is kept. We do not believe that it can be honoured easily or all at once; hut something can and must he done to save the splendid youngsters of to-day from the disappointment of defeat, the degradation of the dole, and the enforced idleness which ends in loss of self-respect, loss of hope, and loss of good citizens. Something could he done now in one direction at least. This is in the laws and regulations governing apprenticeship to trades; but if action is taken in that direction it will have to be most carefui action; guided by good brains and so controlled that there will he left no loophole for unfair dealing and no reason for resentment in any quarter. It is true that some employers are already helping and others would do so were it not for restrictions which, unfortunately, are only too necessary in some cases. A great and pressing responsibility therefore falls upon Governments, school autliorities, and employers, not only to help the ex-students into positions where they may develop into useful citizens, but to ensure that this is done wisely and fairly, and without prejudice to industr^ or those whom the plan would aim to help.