APPEAL TO FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 22 January 1946, Page 6

APPEAL TO FARMERS

EX-SERVICEMEN FARM TRAINEES

LARGE NUMBER NOW WAITING

An appeal to all those fanners who are in a position to do so to take a suitable ex-serviceman as a farm trainee under the board’s training scheme is made in a statement from the Rehabilitation Board. The state ment, which expresses the board’s concern at the large number of men awaiting training, goes on to explain the farm grading system on which the training scheme rests.

“in its approach to the task of settling ex-servicemen on the land, the Rahibilitation Board adopted its system of grading of applicants according to their previous farm cxh perieiice and ability/’ says the. statement. “The grading is the responsibility of special committees through out tile country comprising three members with a private farmer as chairman. l ? he other members are representatives of the Lands and Survey Department and the State Advances Corporation.

“Should an applicant not measure up to the standard required for an “A” grade certificate, it does not mean that lie is debarred from par-) ticipation in the board’s land settle-' ment scheme. On the contrary, lie is provided with every facility and encouragement to obtain the experience necessary to justify the hope that *when he is granted the ownership of a farm of his own he will be fitted to acquit himself to advantage. Training is made available with approved private, farmers, that

is farmers who are regarded as competent by their fellows and who are considered capable of imparting their knowledge to an ex-iserviceman employee. “The recognised form of training for a B grade, or partially experienced man is a season with an. approved private farmer. An intensive course at an agricultural college is also offered to a number of ex-scr vicemen who complete the practical training. At these courses additional managerial and other necessary knowledge is acquired. For the C grade. or inexperienced man with an aptitude for farming, the period is up to two years with a private farmer followed by an agricultural course where this further assistance is considered appropriate. Rates of wages range from £5 to £5 10s a week. To encourage private farmers to employ ex-servicemen as trainees, the board subsidies the wages at rates varying from £2 10s a week to £1 7s.' Gd a week. The gross commencing wage and the corresponding subsidy rate arc governed by the previous expei'iencc of the. applicant.

“The grading of farm applicants and the system of training have both proved successful. To date a large number of men have received training and many arc now being trained. However, with increasing demobilisation, the number of men who have been graded to undergo training lias increased. The board is concerned at the large number of men awaiting training and earnestly appeals to all those farmers who are in a position to do so to take a suitable ex-serviceman as a farm trainee under the board’s scheme.”

The statement concludes by advising any farmer who is prepared to assist to communicate with. or call at the nearest rehabilitation office, where further details will readily be given on request.