UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20335, 7 September 1931, Page 3

UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS.

TRAINING IN FARM WORK. MINISTER REVEALS DETAILS OF SCHEME. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, September's.. The details of the Unemployment Board's scheme for the training of youths between the ages pf 16 and 20 years in farm work, were announced by* the Minister for Labour, (the' Hon. S. G-. Smith) this afternoon. ' The Minister stated that application in the meantime will be limited to 100 youths, and the period of training will be for one year. The youths are to be placed on suitable selected stations .where the Unemplyomont Board is satisfied thatrthqre will be : ample opportunity for the. r boys -to obtain a general knowledge of- farm work. Although the boys naturally will be required, to conform to the, discipline of the. station, Mr. Smith sa'id, it should be clearly understood that they are not going on to the stations ag ordinary farm labour, -and their presence, will, not, be deemed .sufficient for shortening ' the number , of ordinary hands employed. In their general training the boys will undertake every Mrni of farm work carried on at the station.

The Minister said that ,a suitable' station for the purpose was one where two or more boys could be trained at; the same time. The Unemployment Board had received'offers from sevetel large station-holders, who, recognising" their responsibility to the country > garding agricultural-training, were : pared to take as many, as a ■ each, provide accommodation, aside competent men for* .flifir-' No doubt there were who would gbe.|^e#a'red: v t'or •make similar arrangements^'.... ; « }... Locabunemployment cWumiJtees. invited to'i.look.. out^foir: suitable: *ta : S' tions itheinoldet, "was <jypijliig to carry '.out and the provision* of ' aecomtnodatioii raik!;. food. Applications • on tfcese*'liiies be dealt with promptly by the Unemployment Board, and. strictly ii the order received. 5s a Week Pocket-Monex* Mr Smith said that the Board, desirous of interesting boys brought up . in the cities and towns in agricultural' pursuits, and to ensure that, a suitably boy who was anxious to-train for this . •type, of work-should, not be prevented on the ground of expense, it was proposed, to supply the boys selected with pocket-money at the rate of 5s a week, ' which, as already stated, was in the naturej-of. au educational bursary.. The Minister" stressed the .jjpint. that - limiting the number to 100 •* might be interpreted as too small even for a beginning but the Board Jl&d been guided in its present decision by two considerations—first, it most prove; that the scheme'was workable and, secoixi,

/it jjiuat 'see teasonable development twork" in--progress to ensure that after draining "there was ~a of vhe ........ boys] finding permanent-employment m ;<farm: work. ... -