LEARN TO FARM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 785, 4 October 1929, Page 11

LEARN TO FARM

WAGES RANGE FROM TEN TO 30/FOR BOYS ONLY Ranging from lOs to 30s a week, the wages offering for farm work are not attractive to those unemployed men who are married. A list showing farm work offering fit present was produced at the meeting of the Unemployed Association at the Trades Hall this morning Most of the positions were for boys of from 15 to 20 years of age. For a farm near Frankton, a boy of 15 was required to help in the cowshed and do odd jobs for 12s a week. He would be given a room to himself and treated as one of the family. A 110-acre dairying and sheep farm required a boy 15 to 17 years of age at a wage varying from 30s to 15s a week. “The boy will have every chance to learn farming,” was stated on the list. * “ACCORDING TO ABILITY” A 260-acre farm offered better prospects for a lad of 16, who was able to milk. The wages offered were £1 a week “and more,” but this offer was offset bv an appeal from Taumarunui for an 18 to 20-year-old youth at 32s 6d a week. Two lads of 15 and 3 6 years were required for another place at wages ranging “from 35s to 19s a week, according to ability.” A North Auckland farmer with 1,100 acres offered 10s to start, rising to £l, and offered to pay the train fare of the successful applicant if he stayed six months.

More generous treatment was extended from the Bay of Islands, where the wage for a youth between 16 and 19 was £1 a week, rising to 30s. The farmer offered to pay the fare and deduct it from the first week’s pay. Another farmer from the same district offered a youth £ 1 a week to assist with 40 cows.

Dargaville provided a little light humour: —“Wanted, lad 15, assist with 40 cows. Wages 10s. Fare paid if stay three months. Increases after six and twelve months. Must be Protestant. Good home, and boy will be taught to do farm work, also gardening and fruit culture. Will pay fare and give a Christmas present if stay on.”

A youth, aged 18 to 20, who was fond of animals, was sought from the Bay of Islands. The wage was £1 to 255, but the successful applicant must pay. his own fare.

Fifteen to seventeen shillings a wgek, increasing according to ability, was offered from a small dairy farm at Hokianga, requiring a youth of from 15 to 17. The fare would be paid and deducted at the rate of 7s 6d a week until refunded.

“Yes, farmers want help—for nothing”—was the opinion of one member at the meeting.