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and more boys will no doubt be attracted to the centres if their
reputation as bridges to employment in other areas becomes firmly
established. The fact remains, however; that the boys most in
need of discipline tend to stay away from the centres. We are so
impressed with the dangers of demoralisation among these lads
from the point of view of the transfer problem that we think that,
if in the near future a substantial number of unemployed juveniles
are not in attendance at centres, the question of introducing legisla-
tion to make attendance compulsory for juveniles who are unem-
ployed in areas to be scheduled -and are not attending school, should
be seriously considered.
VIII. OPENINGS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THIS COUNTRY
67. However perfect the machinery for transfer, it is useless
unless openings can be found for those transferred. We have
already referred to the elastic working of the employment market
and have indicated the general absorptive capacity of industry.
There are opportunities for employment, but employment can only
be obtained if it is looked for, Nor should exclusive reliance be
placed on State agencies. State agencies and State action
can help, but the problem of unemployment in the depressed
industries is one which can only be solved if the whole community
realises its existence and consciously resolves to grapple with it.
It is legitimate to expect every physically fit unemployed man to
exert himself to the utmost on his own behalf. Active co-operation
is required, not only from employers, large and small, but from
all individuals who are in a position to offer work of any kind which
has reasonable continuity or holds prospects of bringing the workman
into contact with such work. Apart from private employment there
are, 1t is estimated, some 120,000 employers of labour who normally
employ more than five workers. If only even half of these, when
they came into the employment market, would make it their business
to give employment to one man or two men from the depressed
areas, a real step would have been taken towards a solution.
Private persons, too, can make their contribution ; there are available
men and youths, boys and girls, willing to take up any situation.
And, needless to say, we hold that there is a special responsibility on
Public Authorities, central and local, which place important con-
tracts, to indicate to their contractors that every opportunity must
be sought, when collecting personnel for the fulfilment of the con-
bracts, to find employment for some men from the depressed areas.
68. Quite apart from an ordinary human recognition of the
tragedy that has overtaken whole communities, we are impressed by
the fact that the chronic unemployment in the depressed areas lies
like a cloud over the whole industrial horizon and lowers over all