FARMING NOT FAVOURED

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1932, Page 6

FARMING NOT FAVOURED

BOYS SHOW DISINCLINATION EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE DATA. INVESTIGATION BY ITS OFFICERS. OBJECTION MADE TO CONDITIONS. Registrations received by the recently constituted New Plymouth Boys’ Employment Committee total 75 to date. Of this number six have been placed in permanent positions and a number of others have received temporary employment, according to a report by Messrs. O. Johnson (registrar) and W. G. Reid (hon. sec.). “The registration reveals a disinclination on the part of the greater number of the boys to engage in farm work,” the officers state. “The following table shows the positions sought and the number of applicants for each position: Architecture 1, accountancy 2, banking 6, butchering 2, building construction 3, commercial 5, clerical 20, pharmacy 4, droving 1, engineering 9, farming 5, foundry 1, fruiterer 1, gardening 2, insurance 2, journalism 1, linotype operator 1, law 1, painting 1, radio 2, shop assistants 10, signwriting 1, warehouse 11. Some of the applicants are willing to accept any of a choice they have made. “We are awaiting z the completion of the school examinations now being held before visiting the town primary schools to register those who will not be able next year to join the classes at the high and technical schools,” the report states. “The registration reveals a disinclination on the part of the greater number of the boys to engage in farm work. As we realise that a due proportion must be placed on the land we have questioned the boys to give their reasons for not taking up farm work. Some of them tell us that they see little hope of being able to acquire farms of their own and do not desire to become farm labourers or, as some of them say, drudges only. Others point out that on many of the farms conditions prevailing are not congenial. In many cases the hours of work are too long and the wages inadequate, the housing and the food are not up to standard and the means of recreation almost negligible. These lads, therefore, prefer to apply for employment in the centres of population where conditions are more congenial. “We have visited some of the business firms in towns and in every case have been received most courteously. We have, however, not received much encouragement that employers will be able to take boys unless some of the awards at present in operation are made more elastic, especially those dealing with wages. At the same time, we do not for a moment wish adult employees to be superseded by juvenile labour. Where we have been successful in placing boys we have noted the preference shown for those who continue their studies after leaving school.”

The report was presented to a meeting of the commitee last night. The committee decided to visit the high schools at a date to be fixed by Mr. W. H. Moyes to interview the boys in connection with registration. Donations of £1 Is. were received from the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, of ss. from Mr. Hugh Baily and of stationery from the New Plymouth Borough Council, to whom thanks were returned. Messrs. Johnson and Reid were thanked for their report.

Those present at the meeting were Mr. W. H. Moyes (chairman), Adjutant S. Green and Messrs. O. Johnson, A. F. Sandford, G. Fleming A. Busing and W. G. Reid. ■ ' ' '