BOYS FOR FARMS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 72, 17 December 1932, Page 11

BOYS FOR FARMS

Some Unwilling’ to Accept Work AUCKLAND PROBLEM 1 Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Dec. 16. The unwillingness of numbers of boys to accept employment on farms was commented on in a report considered at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Boys’ Employment Committee yesterday. The statement referred to the activities during November at the training camp for boys established at St. John’s College, Meadowbaitk. During the month 275 boys attended the camp, 27 being passed through training. Fifteen went to farm positions, and seven left voluntarily. Five were required to stand down for a period to permit reconsideration of their refusal to take work in the country. It was stated that the experiment of inviting parents to the camp to give them an opportunity of overcoming objections to farm positions for their sons was encouraging. The results of tlie experiment strengthened the conviction that actual personal contact with parents was the most promising method of combating the prevalent prejudices against rural pursuits. As a result, the system of admission to the camp had been modified somewhat. At present, any boy of reasonably good character was admitted, whether he desired or his parents wished him to go to the country. At the end of two weeks the parents of such a boy were interviewed, and, if they still refused to consider a farm position, the boy was stood down on tiie understanding that his case would be reconsidered at any time should the parents change their minds. Mr. N. G. Gribble, president of the committee, said valuable training activities were being performed at the camp. He said that, even with respect to work in the city, difficulty was being experienced in obtaining a number of boys between 14 and 16 years of normal proportions. “We are certain to see large numbers of them when the schools close,” remarked Mr. J. W, McGecbie. UNEMPLOYED BOYS

Penrose Camp Scheme THIRTY SELECTIONS MADE The Wellington Boy Employment Committee will accept applications for the eamp for workless boys up to next Friday evening. The main party will leave Wellington for the Penrose Camp, near Masterton, on December 28, and the boys will return to Wellington on January 26. The holiday will be combined with an introduction to farm life and a course of instruction by experts of the Agricultural Department. Already 30 boys have been accepted by the committee. Applications should be made to the Y.M.C.A.. and apart from the return fare of 3/9 there will be no charge for boys in difficult circumstances. The eamp is in no sense a relief camp, anil it has been made possible by the voluntary efforts of citizens who wish to give deserving boys an opportunity to get out of the city. An appeal has been made for the loan of a motor-car during the period of the camp. A capable driver is available.