WORK FOR A BOY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 278, 19 August 1932, Page 12

WORK FOR A BOY

Remuneration Question POWER BOARD VIEWS The allegation of Mr. J. Maher that the remuneration of the boys given employment as office supernumeraries by the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board was insufficient caused considerable discussion at the meeting of the board yesterday. Mr. Maher thought that the wage of 5/- was insufficient and that the boys should be given enough to keep themselves. It would be desirable if the board could establish a precedent by giving each of the boys £1 a w'eek. The chairman, Mr. S. Blackley, intimated that the board did not want the boys, but was giving them the opportunity of gaining experience. The board did not employ the boys for the amount of work it got from them, but only employed them at the request of the principal of the Hutt Valley High School. Mr. W. H. P. Barber said that it was a great benefit if a boy could be taken into a respectable office if only for pocket money. If something of this kind were not done, or was prohibited in any way, the youth of the country would degenerate in character for lack of employment The chairman observed that the boys were free to seek other positions, and members of the board would be doing a greater service to the boys if they endeavoured to get the boys other jobs. In the opinion of Mr. L. Stewart the board had done nothing to relieve unemployment. Local bodies spent money, but the board, with Its revenue, had done nothing at all. He suggested the board pay the boys 15/- a week as its contribution. Mr. A. Walker agreed that if the boys were wanted they should be paid standard wages, but the board did not want them. Mr. A. W. Press thought it would be better to let the boys go back! if the board were accused of being “slave drivers.” He had understood that the boys were 16 years of age, and not 19. On principle he was not in favour of increasing the remuneration at the present. Mr. J. W. McEwan said that when the letter was read he did. not know the ages of the boys. Too many youths were looking for clerical jobs, and he thought it would be better for. them if they went on the land. The engineer-general manager, Mr. E. F. Hollands, explained, that the idea was to employ a comparatively old boy. The young boy could still obtain free education, but the boy of 19 or so could not. The boys in the board’s office were allowed time off to try to get other jobs. "They are making wonderful progress,” he said. ‘ Every local body seems to be trying to see how little it can pay anyone,” observed Mr. Maher, at the conclusion of the discussion.