IDLE HOME LADS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 6

IDLE HOME LADS.

—« THE FIRST SHIPMENT ASSURED. GIKLS ALSO AVAILABLE. The Government proposal to bring fifty-out-of-work'English boys' to New Zealand (these to be in agricultural districts) will probably be carried out. In response to its circular to farmers asking conditions upon which they would give employment to such lads, the Labour Department lias already had the required number of applications from the Wellington district alone, whilst double the number have been received at Auckland, and numerous applications made in the other centres. Interviewed yesterday, the labour Department authorities emphasised the point that if the project is adopted, not a single boy will bo brought out to New Zealand unless he has a guaranteed situation. Also, under no circumstances would' the youthful immigrants be permitted to enter into factory employment in the town's. Following are descriptions of a few. of the 60,000 boys from wbich choice can bo made:— (a) years, small, ■ strong, formerly house and office boy, head mills; now wil'e-rope making; father dustman. r (b) 16 years; formerly house boy and shoj) boy, now working at grum-met-making; good character; bright, quick lad; father eraue driver. (c) 17A years, chain horse boy; left . owing ti) slackness of trade; out every morning 5 to 7 a.m. last IS months; sturdy lad; father lighterman. (d) 19 years; biscuit baking; left 1 owing to slackness of trade; coal ' hawker for 18 months; was expert milker at 14 years; father dead. y (e) 21 years;' errand boy and restaurant boy; helped his father at tinsmithing, wheel-wrigliting, and doing rough carpentering; quiet, steady boy, longing for farm work; father's work at a standstill. Further inquiries from the Labour Department authorities showed that it was not unlikely..that workless girls might also be brought out under a scheme similar to that relating to the boys. Mr. Sedgowick, who was recently in New Zealand in support of the proposal, had stated that there wcro just as many giris available as boys. Ho had - pointed out that the boys 'wero very anxious that their sisters as well as other relatives should be encouraged to emigrate after they had first , become settled. The girls (it "appears) are unskilled in connection with domestic service just\ ns the boys at present krioiv little or nothing about agricultural work. Every year , thousands aie thrown out of employment owing to younger girls being employed in their places. Such girls usually managed to make just a bare living in connection with sweated industries.

As was mentioned yesterday special steps arc being taken by tho Labour Department to ascertain if the employment of such lads is likely to prejudicially affect the employment of colonial youths.