SECONDARY SCHOOL BOYS

Evening Star, Issue 24332, 22 October 1942, Page 3

SECONDARY SCHOOL BOYS

VACATION WORK ON FARMS (P. A.} WELLINGTON, CM. 21. • Because of I Ije shortage of farm labour, a .'pocial effort is being made ibis year to interest secondary schoolboys, aged 14 years or over, in taking farm employment during the summer holidays. The scheme was outlined 10-day by the secretary of the Government Youth Centre in Wellington, Mr S. H. Petersen.

Mi* Petersen said that special care was taken to >ce .that the conditions on farms were suitable. The farmers were informed that boys, particularly if under 16 years, should preferably live and have their meals with the family, and in no circumstances should t hoy be required to have'their meals or spend the evenings alone. Jt was stipulated that the work must be reasonably congenial, not- ju-i work the farmer did not care to tackle liim.-clf, and must be reasonably suited to the boys’ physique and age. 11 could include >uch work as general farm work, haymaking, harvesting, linen llax harvesting, market gardening, tomato growing, and fruit picking, grading, and pack-

Nol le>s than award wages must bo pawl, Mr Peterson said, though it was though* that some farmers might, offer more for sheep and dairy farm hands. The award wage-, plus keep in all case- wore:—Under 17, £1 2>; 17 to 18. £1 9*; 18 to 19. £1 16*. The farmer must refund the youths their return transport to the farm if they stayed a month or more, For the success of the scheme it was nece«>ary that (lie farmers should make known their requirements before the end of the school term, Mr Petersen said. The primary production councils were being asked this year to see that applications were lodged in time, and that the conditions on farms were suitable.