‘CALL TO YOUTH'

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20494, 10 May 1938, Page 2

‘CALL TO YOUTH'

NO HOPE UNDER LABOUR LOBB OF OPPORTUNITY (By Telegraph.—press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday ‘ In his speech the other night, the Prime Minister added something—apparently as an afterthought—which he described as a ‘call to youth.' If Ihis Government at any stage in its term of office, has ever made a call to youth, then the young people have not heard it,” stated the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in his address last evening. “Youth demands liberty, and the opportunity to strike out for itself as soon as it finds its feet, but consistently the Government has denied youth its liberty and opportunity,” lie added. “Everyone must fit into a prearranged economic plan, and work as the Government directs, for whatever scale of remuneration the Government is prepared to allow. Does that sort of thing offer any attraction to young people ? Their outlook is about as glowing as a sheet of old roofing iron. ’ Have young men any freedom to enter trades to-day? The Minister of Labour has taken his commands from the big trade unions, which want to preserve themselves as close corporations. and has thrown overboard the apprenticeship scheme which Mr Webb introduced with tlie goodwill of the employers. That is Mr Armstrong's call to youth. ”Has the Government provided any incentive for young men to go on the land? The Minister of Marketing fixes prices, and the Minister of Lands denies them a title to their land. That is how Mr Nash and Mr Langstonc have framed their call to youth. "Do the professions hold out any attractions? Medicine, dentistry—journalism perhaps—all are to be socialised, and no man will be able to claim the reward of his own endeavours. That is Labour’s call to youth. Over and above all these things, the young man over 20 years of age is to be forced to pay is in the £1 from his wages, for doubtful superannuation and health services, in the knowledge that If he makes a success of his life, he will not receive a penny in benefits. It is small wonder that youth turns a deaf ear to this call.*’