EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 207, 1 September 1932, Page 8

EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS.

APPEAL FOB FUNDS.

MANY ACTIVITIES COVERED.

A decision to appeal to the public for £5000 for the financing of its activities during the current year was made by the executive of the -Auckland Boys' Employment Committee yesterday afternoon. It is estimated that that sum will 'be necessary to enable the committee to prosecute its efforts to place a reasonable proportion of unemployed youths in suitable employment, as well as undertake other movements on behalf of the workless youth of the city. The funds will be required for the following purposes: —. Central Office. — To discharge the requirements of the organisation, continuing to place boys with, suitable employers —expenses entailed. St. John's Camp.—To serve as a selection and educational depot for boys passing to farmer employers, on a basis of 30 boys, at a time—say, 600 to 800 boys per annum. Technical Education.—Specially . designed course to give rudiments of useful knowledge, particularly in "farm mechanics"; 50 boys already enrolled; 60 further applications received—say, 300 to 400 boys per annum. Kindling and Messenger Service.—To give employment and aid selection and classification—annual number, say, 100 boys. Recreational Occupation. — Involving co-ordination of available.facilities on a locality basis to provide centres -for physical, manual; and cultural acti-. vitics. : ; . •'. Farm Schools.—lt is hoped that the Government will make Ruakura, Farm, near Hamilton, available free of cost for a two to three months' course; capacity, 150 boys at a time; kit will probably have to be provided in most cases —capacity, 800 boys per annum. . St. John's Camp. Reporting on the establishment of the St. John's ca.mp, Captain R. H. Billington stated that the six boys had attended most regularly, and were punctual, industrious and well behaved. They were showing an encouraging interest in their work, and had made very satisfactory progress in the limited, time. Already there was an appreciable_ improvement in their physical appear-, ance and bearing. According to the recreational and camps committee it wae hoped next .week, with the completion of the large building, to increase the camp membership to 10. The co-ordinating of recreational activities had been postponed until the reopening of the , Seddon Memorial Technical College. Kindling and Messenger Service. The chairman, Mr. N. G. Gribble, reported that an endeavour' was being made to obtain at a nominal rental the lease of a building in the oity suitable for the establishment of the kindling wood factory and messenger service. There would be room for a large number of boys. As the messenger service would be run in conjunction with the factory, the time of the boys would be fully occupied. It was expected that within a week the concern would be -under way.' The industrial ' committee recommended that the service be extended to covering the- remaking of large cases into smaller ones suitable for a wide demand. It was announced that for the month 91 boye had"-been placed in employment by the' committee. Some 61 had been found positions on farms and 30 occupations in the city; ';■■'■- Reports, from sectional committees recommended that employers and trade organisations be communicated with suggesting that their members when engaging boys should require, that they be registered with the committee. ; .