FARM CONDITIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18205, 28 September 1933, Page 11

FARM CONDITIONS

EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS APPRENTICES!!]P SUGGESTED Evidence of a pronounced reluctance of unemployed boys to go on the land has been furnished by Air. C. L. Cato, director of the youth employment bureau at the Hamilton Y.M.C.A. During the past three weeks, lie said, he had received over 50 applications from farmers for boys, whom he was unable to supply. Over 300 boys have been found work through tho bureau this year.

Air. Cato defended the attitude of many boys in declining farm work, saying that the farmers themselves were to a large extent responsible. He alleged that many boys were denied the bare comforts of life, and were compelled to sleep in draughty sheds without facilities. He considered that there should be some system of apprenticeship whereby boys could enter the service of farmers for, say, two years, at a nominal wage. At the end of that time they would have a good knowledge of farming. Under that scheme the farmers employing boys would have to give an undertaking to keep (hem employed throughout the period of their apprenticeship. “The present system of employing hoys oil farms,” said Air. Gnfn, “is not good enough, and tends to drive (hem away from the land rather Ilian (o encourage them. They emne back from farm jobs, and their description of conditions discourages others.”