EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 7

EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS

BETTER PROSPECTS

COMMITTEE’S REVIEW OF YEAR’S WORK

A better position in the employment of boys is indicated in the annual report of the Christ hurch Boys' Vocational Guidance and Employment Committee. During the year the committee has had experience of not being able to fill all the positions offering in certain occupations, and the previous strong demand for very young boys seems now to be corrected. The summary of placements for the year is:— I

The committee considers that the larger number of boys placed in farming positions is encouraging. It believes that the outlook for boys more than 18 years of age has improved, but that much more can still be done for their special training with the cooperation of the technical schools and i; placement. An analysis of ages is as follows.

710 748 “Follow Up” Work

Of the boys placed in permanent positions, 930 were “followed up.” Of these, 564 were still in the positions in which they were placed by the bureau, and 487 are doint well. Eightyseven of these had been reported as "very satisfactory,” 27 having been apprenticed where this was not originally promised, and 17 were being retained “on trial,” not having proved fully satisfactory. Of 366 who left their jobs, 103 had entered other positions, which appeared to hold better prospects, in many cases making the change after consultation with the committee. Of these, 22 at least had entered Government servipe. A total of 145 left for various reasons unknown to the committee, eight returned to school, 10 left for health reasons, three to accept higher wages, and 19 because they were dissatisfied with the prospects. A good deal of attention was also given to crippled boys, of whom seven were placed in employment, and three changed to more congenial occupations.

The vocational choices show that, e.g.. far too high a proportion is planning to go into some occupations and too small a proportion into others. Much adjustment and revision of plans is obviously necessary. Twenty-one per cent, are ..ot in a position to indicate even a tentative choice of career.

In most cases the reasons given for vocational choice were vague and unsatisfactory. A considerable number of boys indicated that their choice of vocation did not coincide with the actual work to which they were going to be put. Financial circumstances, lack of prospects, or parents’ wishes were the most common reasons, for this.

Permanent. Temporary. 1937 1936 1937 1936 ■Farming . 104 76 5 12 Commercial . . 154 161 44 42 Industrial . 293 363 51 44 Miscellaneous 197 303 307 580 748 903 407 678

Permanent Registrations. Placements. 1937. . 1937. Age. No. P.C. No. P.C. Under 15 .. 146 204. 127 17 15-16 .. 195 27i 198 26£ 16-17 ,. 167 23£ 189 25.3 17-18 .. 113 16 129 17.2 Over 18 89 124 105 14