REMEDY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 22, 22 December 1932, Page 12

REMEDY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. The conclusions reached, by Messrs A. E. Ansel! and S. G. Smith, M.l’.’s, as the result of their recent investigation of the juvenile unemployment problem are contained in a comprehensive report which they have prepared dealing with many phases of tho subject. The report has already been submitted to Cabinet and a precis of it together with the recommendations made was released to-day. After pointing out that secondary industries offered slender chances for the absorption of boys, the committee consider agriculture offers the most promising field for the employment of young men, and a land settlement scheme is recommended whereby- Crown land would be developed bv suitable young men who would ultimately become settlers. During their investigations the committee noted the very definite aversion of the average boy to take up farming pursuits. In discussing the educational bias which has led boys a.wa.y from the land the committee mention that whereas languages- and mathematics in the senior free placo examination enabled the candidate to receive 400 marks for each subject, the maximum marks for chemistry, botany and agriculture were only 200. It is suggested that tho latter should carry tlie same pass marks as language subjects. “ACUTE HUMAN PROBLEM.” “We are convinced that this problem is one of tho most vital facing the people of New Zealand to-day, and is in fact the most acute human problem with which this generation has been called upon to deal,” state Messrs Smith and Ansell after expressing high appreciation of the public-spirited, effort which has already led to a measure of success.

They give figures indicating what has already been done and the extent of the remaining problem. These figures show that the boys registered as unemployed total 5908. Of this number 2850 linve been placed in employment, tho classification being as follows: Placed on farms 1172 Placed in trades 421 Placed in shops and offices 593 Miscellaneous 9-14 This leaves a total of 3044 still on tho unemployed, roll. •‘Wo woiiid point out,” they continue, “that our recommendations generally for dealing with the problem are qualified, so far as Government assistance, monetary and otherwise, is concerned, by reason of our knowledge as members of Parliament, of the general economic budgetary difficulties brought about by the fall in prices. Had it not been for this knowledge, our suggestions may have been of a very different character, but we are unable to gauge when conditions may improve, nor can we say on what level the Dominion will eventually be called upon to exist.” It is explained in the report that the full extent of the problem is not represented by tho number of unemployed boys at present on the roll, many boys having stayed on at school because of failure to obtain employjiio'nt. This process, however, could not bo indefinitely continued, and the possibilities were that the close of the present school year would see a larger number of boys than usual leaving the schools. In carrying out the suggestions made in their report, Messrs Smith and Ansell regard the co-operation of existing organisations as essential. “These unemployed boys are the nation’s greatest asset and the responsibility for dealing with this problem is one which concerns every citizen. It is not a task that can or should be borne by the Government, but is one that essentially attaches itself outside the parent to local organisations and individual citizens. As a restilt of our inquiries we are convinced that an organised committee of citizens, representative of every walk in life, in various centres can deal most effectively with .the problem. There is no comparable substitute.” “The problem of placing boys of seventeen to twenty years of age in employment is,” states the report, “presenting special difficulties right throughout the Dominion. Employers, it has been found from investigation, are disinclined to take youths over the age of sixteen, the reason given being that the older boys have grown careless and indifferent and are difficult to teach and hard to control, and appear to resent the more elementary duties of the beginner. We appeal, however, the employers not to prejudge nor to condemn the older hoys, and suggest that they are at least entitled to a fair trial. CALL FOR CO-OPERATION. “The idea that these boys are failures should be combated, as evidence is not wanting that they are. where given a fair trial, ma.king good. The position is not hopeless for' these boys, as from their age they should naturally be better developed and more physically fitted to undertake farm work, and their case should be substantially met by the farm development schemes wo have outlined. In view of the difficulty we have outlined we suggest that local organisations should concentrate on placing boys of from seventeen to twenty years of age on farms. “We have aimed at pooling ideas, plans and resources in order to achieve the maximum efficiency of co-ordina-tion,” states the report, which thor-j oughout stresses that all the recommendations involve the willing co-op-eration not only of those voluntary organisations already dealing with the problem, but reinforcement of thenefforts by greater numbers of publicspirited citizens. RECOMMENDATIONS. The report recommends that in each centre where the problem exists there should be established a general council representing the citizens and representative of all interests and dealing with matters of policy and extension of nctiviteis. Working in close association with the general council should be an executive com-

raittee consisting of tlio conveners of submittees wlricli should undertake special duties. The activities of the sub-committees should cover: (1) Physical development. (2) General educational development. (3) Vocational and pro-vocational development. (4) Athletic development. (5) Social development. Reference is made by tho committee to the possibility of seafaring careers. It is admitted tlita tho existence of a number of unemployed sailors and firemen and the constantly diminishing volume of coastal trade in particular presented special difficulties in absorbing New Zealand boys in the seafaring occupations. While recognising this, tho committee pointed out the importance of a sea-girt country training a proportion of its youths in seafaring occupations, and suggested that as British ships carry large consignments of New Zealand produce the companies concerned might be, induced to include several New Zealand boys in the ships’ complement. The report recommends that the Government consult with the British shipping companies with that object, and that a difficulty now experienced of crews being paid off for a month while in Britain might be overcome in respect of these youths by the Government considering some small measure of financial assistance to them during that period. APPRENTICESHIP DIFFICULTIES.

In dealing with the possibility of providing employment in the towns, i the committee sets out at length the | law covering apprenticeship and tho history of its administration. Employers, under the severe economic con'ditions, had found the apprenticeship system an increasing difficulty which has led to a groat diminution in the numbers employed. “An especially distressing feature of the problem,” state the committee, “is the large number of apprentices who have uncompleted periods of apprenticeship contracts and who are now unemployed for the reasons either that there is no work or training in shops or factories wlrore they were employed, or their employers, either individuals or firms, have gone out of business on account of the general trado depression.” It is pointed out that unless a remedy is found a most serious condition will arise when trade becomes normal and the demand for skilled men increases because skilled men will then have to be imported. For unskilled workers tho normal solution is work, but if there is none available a substitute must be found. Technical training can provide a stepping stone to regular employment when industry revives. The country may not at present be able to employ these boys, but it can still less afford to let them drift. SLENDER CFIANCES IN CITIES. A careful investigation of the opportunities for boys in town occupations was made by the committee who declare that at no time in the history of New Zealand had commerce and industry offered such slender chances for the absorption of boys on completing their school life. The committee stress the importance of land occupations in view of New Zealand’s almost complete financial dependence on returns front the exported products of the land. Various organisations working for the welfare of workless boys have been able to place a number of boys on farms, but it is considered something further should be done for them in order that they might ultimately become established as farmers rather than remain farm workers. The time has arrived for evolving a definite land settlement scheme whereby young men who have completed their course at an agricultural college or agricultural high school and have obtained a certificate of approval from such colleges or schools, and who have worked for a period of less than two years on a farm or station and have shown by their diligence and competency that they will prove to be efficient farmers, shall be given every encouragement and facility to make good and ultimately become farmers themselves instead of remaining farm workers or seeking other avenues of employment. , Discussing the question of suitable areas for giving effect to tho scheme, tho committee suggested that a considerable number of areas of Crown land suitable for such a scheme could bo found among the idle lands of the Crown, if a stocktaking were made by men of experience and vision. FARMING INSTRUCTION. “Sufficient areas of suitable land being available for development and settlement, experts could be requisitioned to prepare a plan for work with the estimates of cost of bringing the land to production, and to lay out the work from time to time, sav, twelve months in advance, taking the farming year from July 1 to June 30. The iabour to bo employed on the development work should be recruited from suitable youths who have completed their technical training in an agricultural college or farm of instruction, or who have shown a partiality and aptitude for farming by their practical experience on a farm, or in the secondary school, agricultural school, or farm of instruction. A selection of suitable youths should not present any great difficulties, and any of those not proving satisfactory or efficient during the progress of development could bo discharged as occasion required.” It is suggested that the farm education of selected youths after six or nine months of practical farm work could be supplemented by transfer to an agricultural college or farm of instruction, where they would receive a short course of technical training. Tho boys could be paid a minimum wage for their sustenance during the work period and either a small proportion of tlveir wages deferred and accumulated for their maintenance during the training period, or a bonus be given them at the end of the work period where conduct and progress merit it. “The method assumes that Crown land would be used, and that the selected youths would eventually be settled on the lands developed by them,” adds the committee. “Tho cost of development, settlement, nnd stocking would be a charge on tho land. The Lands for Settlement Account is tho natural source from which the cost should be found. The committee considered that generally no labour should be employed except that of youths selected as potential settlers. Allotments should not exceed 75 acres in any case, and, if the quality of the land permitted, tho area should be in the vicinity of 60 acres for preference. When arriving at the stage of development at which i production might bo commenced, tho selected youths should bo allotted to definite sections as farm workmen in charge of the sections, and still be paid a wage. Each section should be run for, say, a year on a trading basis, and any profit earned over working expenses, interest and depreciation, should be credited to the capital cost of tho section. This system enabled the selected settler to bo further trained and proved. Circumstances might suggest a further year of probation on a wage, but on the other hand, certain settlers might bo considered sufficiently advanced to be permitted to become sliaremilkers on their allotments, and profits applied as mentioned. The period of share-milking should ordin-

arily occupy two years, after which, if the settler had satisfied the authorities of his efficiency and fitness for farming he could be allotted his section at capital cost, and interest and principal recovered through the dairy company per medium of the cream cheques. LICENSE TO OCCUPY LAND. During repayment of the cost of development, the settler should bo given a license to occupy; the stock (live nnd dead) covered by a bill of sale or bailment; all alienation of sections prohibited, and no settler permitted to sell his right of occupation. When repayments were completed, provision should bo made for enabling the occupier to obtain the freehold of the land occupied by him. Should any settler desire to retire from his section, or should he prove unsuitable in any way, the improvements and the stock would be valued and the Crown would pay to the settler the amount to which ho would be entitled, which would be normally the difference between the valuation of his improvements and the existing debt on tho land. The section would then revert to the Crown and again be available for settlement.

Side-lines, such as poultry-raising, bee-keeping, certified seed-raising, orchard development, should be encouraged, and pig-rearing should be insisted upon. The committee recommended that where suitable openings were available for town boys that they be placed directly on farms. At the same time they considered the utmost care should be exercised to select only farmers possessed of that sense of responsibility which would establish confidence in the minds of the parents and boys. s Such a scheme would be the means of placing on the land the most desirable and efficient type of farmer and would prove an inoentive to boys to enter an agricultural life, thus ultimately creating a national asset, which could not be too highly assessed.