KEEN DEMAND LIKELY

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 4

KEEN DEMAND LIKELY

Boys And Employment

The fact that to date this year only 35 boys have left the Southland Boys’ High School compared with 42 at the corresponding date last year led Mr A. J. Deaker, careers master at the school, to express the opinion in a report presented at a meeting of the High Schools Board yesterday that “the situation rather indicates that parents prefer to continue their boys education rather than permit them to accept positions which may be termed war vacancies.” Of the 35 boys who had left four had gone to other schools, three to Lincoln College and the remainder had entered occupations as follows: —Public Service, six; commercial firms and warehouses, five; to their fathers’ farms, four; public bodies, two; Army, three; banks and building societies, three; mercantile firms, one; Merchant Navy, one; journalism, one, legal office, one; insurance office, one. That there will be a keen demand for boys' services during the coming Christmas holidays was mentioned by Dr G. H. Uttley, rector of the- Boys’ High School, in a report to the board. He said that more than 100 boys had already accepted employment for the holidays. Many more would be required before the year closed. "Only 100 boys were present at the closing ceremony last year,” the report continued. “This number will probably be further decreased this year as the demand for boys will be greater." Dr Uttley suggested that the school close for the holidays on Friday, December 11, the break-up ceremony to be held during the morning of that day and the break-up of the Girls’ High School during the afternoon. The board adopted this suggestion.