BOYS' EMPLOYMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 12

BOYS' EMPLOYMENT

FARMING NOT POPULAR MANY POSITIONS OFFERING COMMITTEE REVIEWS PROBLEM The problem of inducing city-bred boys and youths to consider farming as a career was infornfally discussed last night at a special meeting of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee and representatives of interested organisations. Sir Joseph Smith presided. A report read by the secretary, Mr. N. G. Gribble, stated that during the last two years the demand from town employers had considerably increased, so that the proportion of boys going to this sphere had risen from about 40 per cent to 80 per cent of the committee's total placements. The demand from the country had been steadily maintained at a point greatly in excess of the available supply of boys, and for some months the committee had never had loss than 100 listed vacancies 011 farms which it had been unable to fill. Farm Training Centre "There is unmistakable evidence that a reasonable and adequate proportion of our boys and youths is not going to country life," continued the report. "Every means should bo taken to foster this branch of our activities by special attention to agriculture in schools, by a measure of supervision and encouragements of the boys whilo with farmer-employers, by annual refresher courses at Ruakura School, and by an extension of tho scope of the Auckland Youths Farm Settlement Board's scheme. "An entirely new departure is suggested in the establishment of a farmtraining centre, adjacent to the city, whore boys from 14 fo 17 years of age may be given some elements of farm instruction, and instruction in trades. From the training centre boys could pass either to - farm employment or other branches in which they have shown particular aptitude, or be influenced to take further schooling of a typo likely to bo suitable to their capabilities." Opposition From Parents In tho experience of tho committee, it was stated, the demand had always been greatest for boys from 14 to 17 years of ago, and a recent return showed that over a selected period 100 per cent of such boys were placed, 10 per cent of those over 17 and under 20, nnd none of those over 20. Regarding town employment, members of the committee had viewed with interest the proposals referring to trades schools made by Mr. W. Slaughter, officer in charge of unemployment in the Auckland district, and the committeo was willing to co-operate if desired to do so.

In the discussion which followed the reading of tho report, Bishop Liston said the greatest opposition to boys taking up country life came not from tho boys themselves, but from their parents. Tho question will bo further discussed at tho annual meeting of the committeo next Thursday, when plans for tho committee's future activities will be formulated.