The Insurance of Children On Monday next one of the
most important provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act will come into force—that which lowers the age of unemployment insurance from sixteen to the school-leaving age. Hence- forward, all boys and girls over fourteen years of age employed in an insurable trade will be brought within the insurance system. Formerly, when children left school, they passed out of the hands of the school autho- rities and ceased to be under the care or supervision of any responsible organization. Now they will be regis- tered, and will report to the Juvenile Unemployment Bureau if they are out of work, and may be required to attend authorized courses of instruction. The old gap between fourteen and sixteen is now closed. The children will be cared for, and the Ministry of Labour and the local authorities, having the power to give useful occupation to the young unemployed, will co-operate to check the demoralizing influence of idleness at the most impressionable age.
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