FARM WORK IN HOLIDAYS

Southland Times, Issue 24881, 22 October 1942, Page 4

FARM WORK IN HOLIDAYS

SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 21. Because of the acute shortage of farm labour a special effort is being made this year to interest secondary schoolboys 14 years or more in taking farm employment during the summer holidays. The scheme was outlined today by the secretary of the Government Youth Centre in Wellington, Mi’ S. H. Peterson. He said special care was taken to see that the conditions on farms were suitable. Farmers were informed that boys, particularly if under 16 years, should preferably live and have meals with the family. In no circumstances should they be required to have meals or spend their evenings alone.

It was stipulated that the work must be reasonable and congenial, not just the work the farmer did not care to tackle himself, and must be reasonably suited to their physique and age. It could include such work as general farm work, haymaking, harvesting linen flax, harvesting, market . gardening, tomato growing and fruit picking, grading and packing. Not less than award wages must be paid, though it was thought some farmers might offer more. For sheep and dairy farm hands the award rates plus keep in all cases, were: Under, 17, £l/2/-; 17 to 18, £l/9/-; 18 to 19, £l/16/-. The farmer must refund, a youth’s return transport to the farm if he stayed a month or more. For the success of the scheme it was necessary, that farmers should make known then - requiremen before the end of the school term, said Mr Peterson. Primary production councils were being asked this year to see that applications were lodged in time and that the conditions on farms were suitable.