§ 70. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, as shown by the number of unemployment in- 1101 surance cards issued to juveniles aged 14 and 15 during May, at least 18,000 such juveniles per week obtained their first jobs during the month of April, while the number who were placed in their first jobs by the employment exchanges averaged 5,600 per week during May; and, under these circumstances, will he institute inquiries to determine why it is such a small proportion of the juveniles use the employment exchanges for the purpose of obtaining their initial employment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADMy right hon. Friend does not think a special inquiry is necessary, since it is well known that many children obtain their first employment through the agency of relatives, friends, head teachers or in other similar ways. The number of "first placings" by juvenile offices, though substantial and increasing, is only a partial indication of their work in this connection; valuable help is given through the arrangements made for advising boys and girls about the choice of suitable employment before they leave school.