UNEMPLOYED BOYS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11093, 19 April 1933, Page 3

UNEMPLOYED BOYS

AVAILABLE FOR FARMING

The Wellington Boy Employment Committee is anxious to relieve the serious situation which obtains in the cty with regard to the employment of boys and youths. In addition to its city activities, the committee keeps a registration of lads suitable forfarming, and boys are being interviewed daily with this object in view. The applicants are classified according to age and experience, ranging from lads who have just finished the ordinary school course, and have had no previous experience of farming, to those who have had up to two or three years’ general experience, and who could satisfactorily fill a position immediately on any class of farm.

Since the inception of this branch of the committee’s work last year, no fewer than 340 places have been found on farms, and the majority of these represent boys who have proved satisfactory. In offering these lads to farmers the committee suggests 'that they should, be paid a weekly wage of not less, than 5s in addition to keep, or a larger amount where circumstances and the experience of the lad permit. (The majority of the lads available come from comfortable homes, and the committee insists that reasonably good living conditions should he provided, and that wherever possible the lads should not lose the home environment and friendly cSunsel, which are so essential to their welfare. The committee greatly appreciates the provision of accommodation in the farmer’s own home wherever this is possible.

It will greatly facilitate matters if the farmer will pay any fares in advance, protecting himself, where considered necessary, by retaining from the wages for a reasonable period an amount sufficient to cover this outlay. Where the fare is found by the boy, it is usual to ask that it be refunded after about a month of satisfactory service. Any railway stationmaster will accept the amount of the fare and notify the committee of its: lodgment. Farmers in need of boys shoqld state their requirements very fully, and indicate the extent, of previous experience demanded. The headquarters of the committee is at the Wellington Y.M.C.A.