JOBS FOR BOYS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 14

JOBS FOR BOYS

f'wn Correspondent.l

Chances of Advancement BRIGHTER PROSPECTS

(By Tele^raph —

AUCKLAND, Last Night. In the quest for work to-day boys are faced with brighter prospects than they have be.en for years. Where in less happy times the lad of average intelligence and capacity, pressingly in need of a job, might have been obliged to take the first avaiilable opening, to-day opportunities are so numerous that lie has a far greater chance of finding a position eminently suited to his ability and offering every hope of advancement.

The urgent needs of employers are said to have resulted in a gratifying tendency. While the greatest demand is for boys aged 16 years or under, many employers, finding that boys of this class are not available — immediately at any rate — are obliged to fill pre3sing vacancies with older lads, of 17, 18 and 19 years. In this way assistance is being given to the solution of one of the most serious problems encouuterea in the youth emplojment field. Jobs are bemg offered for factories, shops, offices and farms, and yesterday the youth employment branch of tho State placement service had on its files more than 100 city vacancies waiting to be filled. Many of these clearly offer the chance to begin a worthwhile, lifetime vocation, and, as a result of the scarcity of applications to fill them. they present to the boy with ambitnon a wide selection of opportunities. To put it piainly, he is becoming more antl more able to "take his pick," and he can reject at least the vacancies which may scem to offer few orosnecta.

The demand for youngor bo^ys ih strong, but the fact that an increased proportion of older Jads da being al»sorbed is evident when the placement iigures are studied. The officer in charge of tho branch, Mr. N. G. Grib ble, stated that out of 26 placement.-. made last week, 17 wero cases of boys aged 17 years and over, many of Iheni taken for- the reason that the filliug oi the vacancies was urgent. This trend is considered partieularly encouraging, and one which sbould stimulate conndence in the youth of 18 or 19 who might once have* bben unclined to "hang off" until the time camo for him to receive sustonance. Although this is the quietest season of the year for country work, there is a steady demand from farmers, muny of whom are making known their re-. quirements for months ahead. Opportunities in the country have perhap.\ never been better, and conditions have ammeasurably improved, but there are still difficulties in filling farm vacancies. For some lads the allure of such city conditions as the five-day week is too strong; others, however. once they have begun, have found their ideal calling on the land.