SITUATIONS FOR BOYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21450, 25 March 1933, Page 14

SITUATIONS FOR BOYS

OFFERS FROM COUNTRY SOME EXPERIENCE DESIRED PROBLEM OF MEETING DEMAND An anomjjlotis situation in these clays of unemployment is that the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee has positions in the country to offer 31 boys, but cannot find the lads. Many are on its register as seeking employment, but by far the greater majority do not wish to leave the city. Of the others, a lack of even rudimentary farm training, in most cases, debars them at the moment from securing work.

At this time of the year, it is contended, farmers are still too busy to devote time to the training of lads, and the demand therefore is for boys who at least know "the business end of a cow." Even as business men in the towns demand, and obtain, lads with an elementary degree of attainment, so do farmers seek as a rule for boys with some practical ability equipping them for a farm career. At tho slack period of the season there is more opportunity for absorbing untrained lads on farms, so that in a few months' time the position, for a period, may not be so acute as at present. There is an increasing demand for hand milkers, and if the Employment ; Committee could offer boys with even two or three months' experience of hand milking it would be able to place a large number. This demand has arisen from the economic position, which has caused some farmers to economise in the use of machines. Were lads trained at school in some small practical knowledge of farm work they would have a mucl\ greater chance of finding country employment. Since March 16 the committee has placed 15 lads on farms in various parts of the country, ranging from Opotiki to Hokianga. The particulars provided of the 31 positions still unfilled yesterday show that many inducements are offered to make country life attractive for the lads. Apart from free board and wages, which average about 10s a week, there is usually seme other attractive consideration offered. In one case a farmer states that a wireless transmitting set is installed at his place, and he would welcome a lad interested in the study of wireless. In most cases a liberal amount of time off is specified, while others seeking lads refer to attractive homo conditions and facilities for visiting town.

At the camp at St. John's College the committee does what it can to train boys for country work. Its policy throughout is to carefully select for positions the boys on its register, taking into account .the capabilities and personality of the lads and the requirements of tho farmers seeking help. It has found that a careful adherence to this policy establishes confidence in its. work, and evidence of this has been found in the number of farmers appealing to it after seeing its lads at work on neighbouring farms. TAMAKI ACTIVITIES NEED TO CONTINUE WORK' A year of successful activity was reported at the annual meeting of the advisory committee to tho Tamaki Relief Workers' and Unemployed Association, held at St. Heliers on Thursday evening. The chairman of the committee, Mr. F. G. Baskett, presided. A total of £BS 14s had been received from all sources and the expenditure had amounted to £7l 9s. '-'The committee stresses tho urgent necessity of continuing tho work of relief in the district," added the report. "There are upward of 130 men on the unemployed list in this small area, and their income has proved barely sufficient for the necessities of life, and large numbers have used up their store of clothing and winter comforts and have no chance of providing against sickness or adversity. In addition to unemployed families, there are other cases re quiring assistants in tho district." The following committee was elected: — The Rev. C. Perkins,. the Rev. C. Houchen, Misses Cole and E. Wilson, Mesdames Williamson and G. Wilson, and Messrs. L. J. Keys, J. Dodd, T. Dodd, G. R. Hogan, F. G. Baskett, F. C. Jordan. W. McLennan, J. Hubber, J. Rowe, A. Ulyett, W. Madill and P. White.