WORKING HIS WAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 11

WORKING HIS WAY

SQUATTER’S SQN TOURS THE WORLD “WALKED INTO JOBS” For the last two years Frank H. Staughton, a young Australian, has been working his way round the world. The fact that his father owns a run of 30,000 acres at Gunnedah, New South Wales, did not keep him at home to assist with the_sheep. “I was unsettled and wanted to see the world,” he said today on the Port Auckland, when he arrived from the United States. “I’m still unsettled. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” The last two years-have been full of adventure for Staughton. He has done almost everything. “I never kept a job much longer than a fortnight,” he said. “They always seemed to find out that I wasn’t half so skilled as I should have been.” Staughton lias worked on boats as a greaser, toured England as a carpenter, bricklayer and painter. In the United States he worked as a motorcar mechanic, fitter or a riveter, whichever was offering. In England he was able to make only £2 a week, but in America bis weekly wage sometimes amoimted to £ 14. ‘•That was as a skilled workman,” he remarked, and then with a laugh, “or it was supposed to be skilled.” Staughton left Australia with £IOO in his pocket and paid his fare to England. He then went round the coast of France and Germany, working as a greaser on a boat. Back in England he toured the country, getting work wherever he could. “No, it wasn’t difficult,” he said. “I always seemed to find contractors who gave me jobs, but it is impossible to make much money there. “America: ohl that was different. One dodges the immigration laws by giving a wrong address and taking another name. The best job I had was working as a riveter on an 18storey building. “Tell them you can do anything—that’s how to get job in the States,” said the bright young Australian, who is only 21. “In Chicago I worked as a fitter for some time. I walked straight into jobs whenever I wanted one.” And now. his world trip over, the young man does not.seem to think thar life on a sheep-station will be very excitinb. However, he is on his way back to “give it a go.”