FARM TRAINING FOR BOYS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14888, 30 January 1914, Page 8

FARM TRAINING FOR BOYS.

IMPUTATIONS FROM HOME. MR SARGOO3>'S~GENEROUS OFFER (P3ESS ASSOCIATION TELBCB.VM.) '■; WELLINGTON, January 29. Whilo in Otago this week, Mr T. B. Sedgwick, , who is. tho author of tho Sedgwick scheme of boy immigration, completed arrangements under which parties of selected English lads mil receive an adequate training in all farming occupations on the estate of Mr Sargobd, situated near Lake Wanaka. Mr Sedgwick returned to Wellington from the South to-day, and is to leave New Zealand to-morrow on his way to England to arrange for the emigration of the first party of boys. The scheme gives promise of becoming a very big one, as it is ■understood that Mr Sargood is prepared to accommodate a constant succession of lads on his property. Recently he visited England,, and was impressed with the wretchedness of the living conditions of the poor in the large cities that he determined to help some, at least, of the boys to make a start in a new land. He is even advancing to ' boys the amount of their passage-money to the Dominion. ' . Mr Sedgwick has been authorised to 6cJect suitable boys from the large cities of. Great Britain, and send them direct to New Zealand. At first only a few will be despatched, but later on the number will be considerably increased. The hours of labour will be from 45 to 50 per week, and the minimum wage to begin with -will be 7s 6d weekly. Everything will be found for the lads in tho way of housing, clothing, etc. The schemo will also include a proper system for banking the boys' wages. An important feature of the echemo is that the lads will be free agents all the time. There is to be no question of apprenticeship, and they need only "remain on tbo estate just as long as they feel disposed to do. A year's training is expected to fit the lads to take up regular employment elsewhere. It is intended to eelect the most efficient workers to remain on the farm, and assist in the training of succeeding drafts. ■