BOYS AT A PREMIUM.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 21 November 1924, Page 5

BOYS AT A PREMIUM.

OPPORTUNITIES OFERING A story .is told of two immigrants who at the end of a long and fruitless search for work noted ’ho industry behind certain high stone walls off Khyber Pass and innocently enough inquired there for a job. They were greatly surprised when informed by one of His Majesty’s officials of the terms of employment. The labour market is not so congested to-day, though there is still a percentage ot people out ctl employment,, but in ono particular there is a surplus of work and very few applicants. Roys for all manner of avocations are at a premium. Particularly dees this apply to callings which have no prospects for youth other than the drawing of a weekly salary. Messengers a calling which often appeals to the boy with no fixed ideas In send earning a few shillings, are hard to attract. Farmers with cows coming quickly into profit find that there is a dearth of youths and oilier businesses have some difficulty in obtaining hands for that multiplicity of odd tasks which arc- just hoys’ work. It is only a passing phase, however, and when the schools close next month there will he hundreds of recruits to the workers’ uinks. Many of the futureless tasks for boys soon prove most unattractive and an employer seldom retains his assistant for many months. \ proprietor of a local hairdressing saloon considers himself luckv if he has one on his pavsheet for three consecutive mouths. ’The hoy it he is not an. absolute dullard, sees that there is more to be got from other fields of commerce and endeavours to improve, his position. That is the one beneficial thing about these callings without a future. They are the starting point in many a youth's successl.il career.. He is encouraged to look tor opportunities and given the chance of developing his initiative. Two boys who were shoe shining and sweeping up hair in a city saloon displayed such keenness and assiduity in their work that customers saw in them iusk the recruits they wanted in their business, amt before long the pair had been given another -.fop up the long ladder ol success. There arc similar opportunities awnilin the next coiitiimenl ol v.iiiths which will shortly join the labour ranks.