FARMING FOR BOYS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 7, 3 October 1929, Page 12

FARMING FOR BOYS

NEW ZEALAND YOUTHS

USE OF IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT

“Wo intend to utilise the organisation of the Immigration Department to distilbute New Zealand boys for employment on farms and let them know the business of farming,” said the Minister of Labour (Hon. W. A. Veitch) in the House of Representatives, when referring to the apprenticeship problem. The Minister made it clear that the youths would be free employees, engaged under certain defined conditions, that would protect their interests, enable them to live in a rational way, and learn farming. He was not without hope that quite a number would be employed in that direction. Speaking on the general question of apprenticeship, the Minister said there was a widespread and earnest desire on the part of parents to get their sons into a traie. He realised there were' a great many young people designed to become apprentices, and there were employers willing to engage them as such. He hoped to amend the law so that in some cases two employers might employ the one apprentice provided the authorities were satisfied that the conditions would enable the youth to learn his trade properly.