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72
"The number of unemployment books exchanged at the Bureau
during the first three months of the insurance year (1934) was 2,172.
Last year the number was 2,251.
"The percentage of unemployment among juveniles in Walthamstow
during the year ended March 31st was 5.1 per cent.
"Choice of Employment.—The amount of factory work in and
around Walthamstow during the year was sufficient to meet the
needs of the ordinary worker who does not aspire to other occupations
which are usually regarded as the aim of the boy or girl who
has remained at school beyond the statutory school-leaving age and
expects, when he has finished the extended school course, be it
Central, Technical or Secondary, to enter upon a career of a more
or less professional character. In recent years the usual openings
for these better educated boys and girls have been distinctly few,
and many very suitable boys have remained on the registers of the
Bureau for long periods before being satisfactorily placed in
employment. There has been a great improvement during the past
year in the early placing of such juveniles, but there is a very
strong feeling that, owing to the economic position, large numbers
of juveniles are accepting jobs of a character which is much below
their capabilities. There has been a considerable improvement in
the number of juveniles placed in the City, etc., during the year
(153 compared with 84 of last year).
"Junior Instruction Centres.—The regulations of the Ministry
of Labour as to the conduct of Junior Instruction Centres continued
during 1933-4 as hitherto. Owing to the improvement in
the state of unemployment during the year it was not possible to
maintain the necessary ratio of attendance which would permit the
Centres being continued full time. The Girls' Section ha-s not been
in operation since July, 1933, and the Boys' Section was opened
during mornings only between October, 1933, and July, T934.
"The Unemployment Insurance Act, 1934.—Far-reaching
changes to be brought about by the Unemployment Insurance
Act, 1934. So far as juveniles are concerned the main provisions
are : —
(a) Age of entry to Unemployment Insurance is lowered from
16 to 14 years.
(b) Whole time education after the statutory school-leaving
age may count for the crediting of contributions.
(e) The age at which unemployment benefit may be paid is
lowered from 16 years 30 weeks to 16 years.