TRAINING THE STREET BOYS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1912, Page 12

TRAINING THE STREET BOYS

Before long it is hoped there will be established on the Thames off Temple Pier, if the Government is sympathetic, a training ship, in which boys in "blind alley" work — van boys, errand boys, messengers, junior clerks, etc. — will learn the rudiments of some skilled trade. Lord Northampton's scheme is novel and attractive. The ship — when it has been procured — will be fitted with club-rooms, read-ing-room, and gymnasium. Workshops will be fitted up on board, and the boys will be taught such useful trades as carpenter, wheelwright, coachbuilder, blacksmith, farrier, sadler, harness-maker, etc. Friday will be an off -night, and will be given up to concerts and lectures, while on alternate Saturdays there will be route marches on shore. It is pronosed to form the boys into a corps to be known as the "Imperial Marine Artificers," and for the first year if is intended to limit the number to 300 non- | commissioned officers and artificer-ap-prentices, although it is possible that provision may be found for 100 more boys. It is estimated that the annual cost of the corps, including wages, maintenance of the ship, and all other expenditure, will be £1395. Already half the money required for the initial outlay has been privately promised, and an appeal is to be mado to the citizens of London to provide the balance. It is hoped that the Government will assist the scheme to the extent of supplying a ship.