THE Special Farm Labor Committee, meeting in in Washington late in January, heard Assistant Secretary of Labor Rocco Siciliano review the broad aspects of the farm labor program. He touched upon the Annual Worker Plan, employment of youth in agriculture, rural development, and the work of the President's Committee on Migratory Labor.

The Annual Worker Plan was described by Mr. Siciliano as being the most effective means yet found for utilizing the migratory labor force efficiently. He told the Committee that the day-haul program for youth, the live-on-farm program, and the recently developed youth camp program would be given particular emphasis by the Farm Placement Service in 1956.

The model transportation code for vehicles that carry migratory workers, developed by the President's Committee on Migratory Labor, was about to be issued to the States, Mr. Siciliano told the group. The code is for guidance of State legislatures in enacting laws relating to the safe transportation of migratory workers, and Mr. Siciliano asked the SFLC membership to support that purpose in their individual States.

He added that the Presidential Committee's model code for regulation of agricultural labor camps for migrants, being developed for a similar purpose, was progressing satisfactorily.

Don Larin, Chief of Farm Placement, gave a résumé of farm placement operations in 1955 as shown by preliminary tabulation of results in selected activities. Deputy Director Edward L. Keenan led a panel discussion on the development, organization, and operation of farm labor camps and employer associations. Robert C. Goodwin, BES Director, chaired the meeting.

Secretary of Labor Mitchell addressed the final meeting of the Committee, thanking the group for its

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loyalty to the farm labor program, and its potent abilities in helping to solve its problems.

The Labor Advisory Committee on Farm Labor convened on February 6 and 7 in Washington. Secretary Mitchell and Assistant Secretary Siciliano addressed the meeting, and discussions were led by Director Goodwin, Deputy Director Keenan, and Mr. Larin.

Among other actions, the Committee urged the

President's Budget Message

RESIDENT EISENHOWER'S budget message

Pro Congress for fiscal year 1957 recognized a

to

number of problems and pointed to some solutions which have far-reaching implications for the employment security system. A few excerpts from the budget message are given in the paragraphs which follow.

The current high level of general prosperity spotlights the adverse economic plight of low-income rural areas and of urban areas with persistent unemployment. As part of governmentwide efforts to alleviate these problems, additional work will be done in the labor and manpower field. This will include the designation of areas eligible for special assistance, the provision of labor market information, and vocational advice for individuals.

The 1957 budget recommendations for grants for administration of the employment services and unemployment insurance provide for stepping up job counseling and testing in the public employment offices. For example, job counseling interviews will be increased from 1.6 million in fiscal year 1956 to 2 million in 1957. These increased activities are aimed at better utilization of our labor force-with particular emphasis on placing older and handicapped workers in jobs most suitable for them. Procedures for taking and reviewing unemployment compensation claims will also be improved.

During the current year significant improvements were authorized in our labor and manpower statistics programs. This budget provides, at minor additional cost, for further improvements, particularly in the consumer price index and in reports on labor turnover and current employment.

establishment of State migratory committees, commended the youth programs of the Farm Placement Service, and deplored the lack of family-type housing for domestic farm workers.

Scholarships for Those

Who Work With Handicapped

APPROXIMATELY 20 scholarships and fellowships for 2 separate training programs will be awarded this spring and summer to professional persons working with crippled children and adults.

In one training program co-sponsored by Alpha Gamma Delta and the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, fellowships will be awarded for specialization in counseling the cerebral palsied and other severely handicapped persons. March 15 is the deadline for receipt of applications for these fellowships.

Training will be held at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New York UniversityBellevue Medical Center, June 18 to July 13.

Fellowships will be awarded to qualified counselors, guidance teachers, employment interviewers, placement personnel, and other professional persons working with the physically handicapped. Individual grants will total approximately $300 for the course with $160 of this amount used for tuition and laboratory fees.

Six points of academic credit at the graduate level will be given to those who successfully complete the fellowship course. Selection of persons to receive this specialized training will be made on the basis of an evaluation of candidates with the highest qualifications who are working for schools, business, or industry, or are able to make a contribution toward effective counseling and placement work for the handicapped.

The second training program is jointly sponsored by Alpha Chi Omega and the National Society. Scholarships are provided to assist professionally trained. persons in intensive study for working with children and adults having cerebral palsy. April 1 is the deadline for receipt of applications under this program.

Individual grants for scholarships vary in amounts up to $750, depending on the length and scope of the course chosen. Training is given at various institutions under the guidance and participation of a member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

The purpose of this program, which has been in effect for the past 8 years, is to make more trained specialists available for service to the cerebral palsied and to supplement and increase the skill and knowledge of those already working with these handicapped persons.

Application forms and other information on both the scholarship and fellowship programs may be secured from the Personnel and Training Service of the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, 11 South La Salle Street, Chicago 3, Ill.