BOYS FOR FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 14

BOYS FOR FARMS

SERIOUS SHORTAGE POSITION IN AUCKLAND HIGH WAGES OFFERED The serious shortage of boy labour for farms was emphasised by the secretary, Mr. N. G. Gribble, in a report presented to a meeting of tho Auckland Boys' Employment Committee yesterday atternbon, Mr. Gribble also commented upon the high wages being offered, stating that in some cases the amount was far too great. After a stringent purging of the lists, 50 listed unfilled applications from farmers remained, Mr. Gribble stated. A considerable number had been written off and it was daily necessary to decline on an average from six to eight telephone or other direct ap~> plications. "In 1934-35 the enrolments for farm work during the quarterly period from December to February were 02 and for the same period in 1035-36 there were 25," the report continued. " It is difficult to find any satisfactory explanation of this big shrinkage, but, in the minds of some, tho recent change of local and general Government means the providing of plenty of work in the cities. At the same time the Government has given an assuranco of a guaranteed price to tho farmers, so that it is obvious that the provision of necessary farm labom; is of national interest. "Wages Really Too High"

"The wages offered for farm boys have risen steeply, and 15s a week and byard, as the starting wage for an inexperienced boy, is by no means uncommon. This return is about twice that offered for town work."

Mr. Gribble also stated that during Nthe past fortnight tho committee had been actually short of suitablo boys for town positions offering. He added that from inquiries made at the office recently it was desirable to mention that, for reason*; that could not be made public, some employers were not considered desirable. Further, any physical or mental peculiarities in boys were tho subject of advice from the committee's honorary medical officer, and many lads received free treatment to correct irregularities.

In supplementing his report at the meeting Mr. Gribble said the wages offered in many cases were really far too high. It would bo bettef for them to start lower and work up. If boys smarted at 15s they had little chance of getting a rise in wages for a considerable time. A General Trend The chairman, Mr. J. W. McGechie, in supporting Jlr. Gribble, said that the psychological effect of a rise was good. He felt that some farmers who engaged inexperienced boys at 15s a week and hoard would expect that amount of work out of them and consequently the boys would be overworked. However, it was a matter out of the committee's control. Mr. McGechio referred to Gisborntf and Christchurch reports concerning the small numbers that intended taking up farming. " The general trend everywhere," ho said, " is in keeping with our experience. As a matter of fact we are placing more boys on farms than anywhere else in New Zealand." It would not be long, he thought, before the raising of the school ago would be carried out in New Zealand. That would help to solve employment problems, as boys would have greater occasion to find out what they were suited for, and there would not be so many who started in occupations for which they were not suited. Mr. Cribble's report was adopted.