CITY BOYS FOR FARMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20304, 11 July 1929, Page 12

CITY BOYS FOR FARMS.

SOLVING NATIONAL PROBLEM

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PLAN

COUNTRY DELEGATES APPROVE

Unanimous approval of the scheme suggested by tlio Auckland Chamber of Commerce for placing city boys on farms was voiced by country delegates at tho provincial conference of chambers of commerce yesterday. "One of the economic problems of the present day is tho difficulty which city boys experience in finding employment," said Mr. 11. T. Merritt, president of the Auckland chamber. "Undoubtedly tho best solution of tho problem is to get them on tho land, and 1 have no doubt, that many farmers would welcome the opportunity of employing suitable lads from the cities. Hy bringing more city people in touch with the land we would be assisting land settlement, which is an important question in New Zealand at present. "Tho idea of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerco is to compile a register of boys wishing to go on to tho land and who, as far as the chamber can judge, should make successful farmers. Tho country chambers will be asked to co-operate with us by compiling registers ol farmers of a good typo who would be willing to employ city boys. If tho scheme can be put into operation successfully, I am confident that it will solve a national problem." Plenty ol Positions Oflering. Mr. Merritt said that some publicity had been given to tho scheme when it was first brought up by tho Auckland chamber, and as a result inquiries from farmers had allowed the chamber to find positions for four city boys. Mr. C. G. Downes (To Awamutu) said lie thought that the scheme should prove equally acceptable to boys and fanners. The parents of boys would bo far more satisfied when they realised that their sons had obtained assured positions through such a body as the Chamber of Commerce. •

"There are plenty of positions on farms offering for boys with the right stuff in them," said Mr. F. 11. Clapham (Hamilton). "11l Hamilton I have not been able to get boys to go on the land, although I have received several inquiries .from farmers "

"The trouble in the past has been that the wrong type of city lad has attempted to take up farming," said Mr. T. I'. Richards (Cambridge). "When the farmer conducts his own inquiries ho generally gets the riff-raff of tho city. Wo want to see decent city lads placed in good, comfortable country homes, where they will be given every opportunity to gain an affection for the land. We have our own boys in 'New Zealand to become the farmers of the future, and should nut import them from overseas." Mr. Fletcher's Experience. »

Mr. 11. Cliff e (Eilcn) said lie hoped that the chambers would not havo the same experience that fell to Mr. J. b. l'lcichci, M.P., when he attempted to find positions for Auckland boys on Taranaki farms. "We have had somo correspondence with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and this situation is not likely to occur," Mr. Merritt replied. "We have definite proof that boys to-day are taking an interest in fanning. There arc not the same avenues of employment that existed for them a few years ago." It would be impossible for the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to take full responsibility for a boy after he had been found employment, Mr. Merritt added. All (be chamber could do would be to find out whether he was suited for the work, while tho country chambers would see that he was going to a good home where he would be treated well.

Mr. A. A. Ross having stated that the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union would regard the. schenio favourably, (ho conference expressed its approval of the scheme and left the arrangement of details to the local chamber.