BOYS' FUTURE CAREERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 17

BOYS' FUTURE CAREERS

APPEAL OF ENGINEERING FEW PROSPECTIVE FARMERS [by telegraph OWN correspondent ! CHRISTCHURCH, Friday Engineering had the most popular appeal for standard VI. boys of 1937, according to a report of the vocational guidance department of the Y.M.C.A. Out of 775 boys only seven chose a vocation because it was that of their father or some other relation, but 185 named various branches of engineering as their choice. Only 20 boys wished to be connected with farming, while 87 selected clerical positions. The Civil Service accounted for 44 nominations, while 21 of the boys wished to school teach era. Two desired to be commercial travellers, while several wished to be lawyers arid doctors. Other choices included bakers, artists, jockeys, panelbeaters, woolclasser, cartooilist, chemist, botanists and furriers. The second largest number, 157, had no choice at all. The report stated that more boys wished to enter the professions at the expense of the trades, and that agriculture was still declining in Prospects of advancement enticed 27 boys to make their decisions, while 356 made up their minds because the work appealed to them. Almost as many, 33>p, made their choice for no reason at ail. llugby appealed to 273 boys as the best sport, with cricket, tennis, swimming and hockey following in that order. Thirty were not interested in sport, while 96 were without hobbies. The collecting of stamps and matchboxes was the most popular hobby. A total of 517 boys stated that they could swim, but the report added that a greater number than formerly indicated that they could not swim.