The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 8th, 1929.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH Bth, 1929.

JjALI’LOYA!FN'I FOR ROY'S. Following on a discussion at the last meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union, a report has been prepared by the Under-Secretary oi Datum 4 and the Dominion secretary or me union for consideration by the pro-v-mcial executives of the union. The Dominion president (Air W. J. Po.son, AI.D.; has handed an outline of the report to the press, so- that farmers may e a press their opinions upon it before it is finalised by the union. The report states that large numbers of boys in towns who have recently left school find a difficulty in getting employment, inquiries shew that town employers now employ a fair proportion of boys in skilled trades, in which apprenticeship is usual. The proportion employed is an average of one apprentice to three journeymen. It is recognised that the general state of trade and the ipenings for worsens in town businesses depend largely on the exports of farm produce, for which, the market may he regarded as unlimited. It is the intention of the Government to provide additional facilities for the development of farming industries, including Jie settlement of larger numbers of people on the land, and it is desired to encourage the employment on farms of as many workers, including 'hoys from school, as possible. To this end arrangements are proposed by which the Farmers’ Union will co-operate with the Labour Department in finding employment on farms for boys and adults. No fees or other charges will he made In this scheme, it is desired to urge on farmers the desirability of taking hoys under apprenticeship contracts. Such contracts liiay he entered into under the amended Alaster and \ppreiiticesliip Act of 1920. The term of apprenticeship shall he as agreed on. say, three years, with an optional, probationary period of three months to decide on the apprentice’s suitability before the contract becomes binding. The contract shall, set out the branch of farming to be taught and the wages for the first year, say, 10s per week and found. During the remainder of the term the- wages shall he those us-

utlly paid to boys of the ago ami capacity of apprentice. Provision is made for arbitration on this point. The contract may provide that the apprentice shall agree that a portion of the wages, say half, shall be deposited with a Governmtnt official and invested to the credit of the apprentice. This would provide the apprentice with part of the amount required if he should desire to acquire a small farm of his own, and also ensure compliance with the terms of apprenticeship. A boy would be allowed the usual holidays, including an annual holiday. The emI'oyer is recommended to insure a l.oy against liability under the Workers’ Compensation Act. The estimated insurance premiums would be £1 Lis for every £10!) wages paid. Each provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union will appoint two of its members to act on a committee, with a representative of tlie Labour Department. Tin's committee will deal with all questions nrising relating to 1 hoys in its district, and will endeavour to see that the various conditions of tiie apprenticeship contracts are complied with on both sides. The ultimate 'objective of this attempt at the absorption of New Zealand hoys is tlie settlement of them on the land, including some of the pum. ice lands of the thermal districts, some of the gum lands of the Auckland Peninsula, and some of the present unsettled land. The Government will be asked to give the group svsteni of settlement n good try out with these boys by putting a group on a suitable block of land. The boys would work under tbe direction of an experienced supervisor until tbe block was selfsupporting. Then the block would he sub-divided among tlie boys who lmd worked it and purchased from the Government under the 36-year mortgage system at a reasonable price, after each section bad been loaded with shares of the cost of manures, etc. During tbe period tbe boy was working for the Lands Department he would receive 40s weekly, half to he hanked. The Lands iJepartmvnt will lx 1 asked to. finance the hoys as under the Dischargin'! Soldiers’ Settlement Act to enable them to erect dwellings, fences, etc., and purchase stock under the supervision of the department. Tt it also proposed to establish farm schools on selected farms tinder the control of a competent authority, where certain boys will, by arrangement with the local fanners, work upon farms and become ultimately eligible to take up land under similar conditions. “It is apparent.” concludes the report, “that some concessions. such as those outlined, will have to be offered to our hoys from tbe cities.’’

A welcome tone of optimism pervades 'recent reports concerning the shipbuilding trade in tile British Isles. Ship-building is one of the basic industries, and its status may always be taken an indicative of what is going on or expected in respect of many other trades with which the building of boats is closely connected. It is gratifying to note that the shipyards

on the Clyde, .Mersey and Tyne are looking forward to a busy winter’s work, and large orders have been placed with the various firms, signifying a marked improvement, which should prove a means of absorbing a good deal of the unemployed labor. Report has it that contracts have been made in the Clyde yards alone for the construction of thirty vessels aggregating more than one hundred and fifty thousand tons dead weight, and on the Tyne it is estimated that the contract of the Blue Star Line for South American trade will exceed two million dollars. Besides these engagements, there arc specifications, drawn for the building of Canadian wheat trade vessels, and a number of Norwegian whalers. One English manager has succeeded in getting what is called a “pocketful” of new orders from the United States. At West Hartlepool and Sunderland, two important shipbuilding centres, it is said that twenty new boats at each of these ports will slide down the skidways some time early next spring. Altogether, the outlook is bright, much more so than it has been for a”" long time past. A natural inference is that me boost of the shipbuilding industry implies a genral revival of many other trades, for the vessels would not be or. dcred nor built unless in the confident expectation of greater industrial production and cargo offerings. If speculation is not overdone, and a demand for high wages does not obtrude to increase the costs of production and so halt the industrial movement which is now showing signs of return to oldtime prosperity the British shipyards this winter may hum with brisk business. It means much every way, alike to the owners and to the vast numbers of workers involved. And it is a hopeful augury for British trade all round.