THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 10

THE HOUSE

HOME LADS FOR FARM _ WORK. CAN NEW ZEALAND TAKE ANY? AN INTERESTING DEBATE. What was described by a- number of members as. the most interesting discussion .which has taken plaeo in the House this session arose yesterday afternoon out of a reference to tho efforts which have recently been made to induce the Governmont to import a batch of Home boys for farm work ill New Zealand. I

Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Christchurch North) asked whether tho Government intended to lend its support to the scheme.-- For himself lib was entirely opposed to the proposal. If boys were brought, from Home..he was satisfied that at least; a proportion would be exploited as cheap labour. No doubt the Minister would do his- best to act as a "parent" to them, but with tho machinery at hand lie felt* sure that ho could not do much for the boys. Ho (Mr. Taylor) would, sooner, come to tjio conclusion that no. boy who was a ward of the State. should bo hired out to a private employer, hut should be put on State farms and .other institutions directly run ..by, tho :. Government. It was quite difficult enough for'the chil-dren.-now passing from the schools in Nfew Zealand to • get suitable employment. -If..'tie bo.vs were.coming out .to New Zealand,to be. adopted, into homes it would be -a v<Sry different matter. However strict - the Government officials mighti .be, as soon-as. the' boys got into- remote districts their supervision would become ineffective; Ho had no doubt but that a largo; majority of employers! would bo humane, but a percentage would merely exploit the labour of the'boys who fell into their hands.

Scarcity of Boy, Labour. • The PRIME MINISTER v said the Government had not committed itself to the introduction of any boys. A gentleman had, visited' New .'Zealand and suggested that if a number of boys, were sent out' they might bo placed with farmers, to learn agriculture. The Government; before coining to a decision, had called for a return from tho Labour Department showing how many boys could be satisfactorily placed with farmers. .The result was- that in tho limited , time during which ■ inquiries, could be made seventy-five applications were received from farmers, and the total was reduced by fourteen, which were considered unsuitable. ■ Good homes mid very fair conditions wore offered, the wages ranging from ss. for the first year to-30s. after the second year, with the proniisu that tho boys'would speedily get the full wages of farm labourers. Thero was undoubtedly a scarcity of boy labour throughout the Dominion.' As a matter'of fact, during his term of office as Minister for Railways there was very great difficulty in obtaining boys to jfiil tho positions that became vacant in' that Department. Often, ■ even, whpn the positions were advertised -and the good' offices of members of Parliament were solicited, theer wore no applicants. In the Post and Telegraph Department, off and oil during. the past four or five years, it had been necessary to break the age limit of service in order to obtain messengers, and the ordinary wage had had to be increased to try and obtain'ap-. plicants. Also Departments had had to take boys from a lower school standard than-, was 'desired. Only recently the"members of some education boards had been complaining that the Department had invited applicants .from boys who had\ only a fifth standard certificate. After referring to the demand for the importation of domestic servants, the Prime Minister said that if a dogmatic, rule was laid down that no labour was to be brought in from outside a good deal of harm would bo done. All that had been done .was to ascertain if employment could be given to fifty boys oh fair conditions, if the Government decided to give them, not a. monetary grantj' but tlie advantago of the low rate's of passage made by the Government and ruling between the Old Country and New Zealand; He agreed it was a matter on which tho House might, properly bo consulted.

Land and Wages. Mr. HAN AN (Invcreargill) said that at present farmers paid such high prices for land—much beyond its producing value—v;ith the result that they wero obliged in order to pay their way to pay wages which wore not in accordance with the scale wliich ought to rule. •He could not .see that there, was any room for. the boys in question; there were hundreds of young New Zealanders Jooking for suitable employment. Ho understood that it was proposed to hold out to such boys tho hope of going on the land for themselves, but the fact was that there was not sufficient land being opened for those who were in need of it.

Workers Leaving New Zealand In Thousands. Mr. LUKE (Wellington Suburbs) declared that at present Labour in New 7 Zealand was building a wall round itself. (Oh's.) Thfc workers wero not encouraging adult population. Mr. Poole: They aro coming here in thousands.

llr. Luke: Yes, and they are going away ill thousands. (Hoar, hear.) Resuming, Mr. Lulco said tlio fact was that more boy labour was needed in New Zealand. Why, at,present,men had to be employed at 10s. per day to (lo l>oys' work. Tho position was such that not a great many manufacturers were able just now to malce two ends meet. What was wanted was suitablo industrial laws which would help to keep the population in the country. Mr. M'LAUEN (Wellington East) said that if the. lads were not found suitable would the Labour Department maintain them ? He ventured to say that they would bo thrown upon their own resources, and would find their way into the towns. . It was wrong that tho Government should lend its assistance to the detriment of the agricultural worlrers.