THE BOYS FROM HOME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 5

THE BOYS FROM HOME.

.* PUT ON TO FARMS, OPINIONS OF THOSE WHO KNOW. Tho question of boy immigration was discussed at somo length at yesterday'; conference of tho Dominion Farmers Inion, (he unanimous opinion being in favour of the system. Ono of the Southland delegates (Mr, !• ester) moved that, in view of the scarcity of youthful farm labour, this conference approves of the. introduction of sintablo youths, under careful selection from Great Britain. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Foster stated that a good deal had been done jn Southland in the direction of getting boys out from Home, and, with a very few exception?, tile boys had turned out extremely w'ell. Ho added that all classes of farm labour were difficult to got, as tho tendency with the New Zealand boys —their -own boys—was to ilcck to the towns. Mr. Birch (Marlon) asked if tho mover would agree to add tho words: "and, on that account, trusts that the Government will support Mr. Sedgwick's scheme." Mr. Poster, in explaining that he could not. accept the addition, stated that he desired that tho conference should not confine itself to any particular scheme. He wished to leave tho matter open, so that schemes (other than that of Mr. Sedgwick) could bo carried on. Immigrants had been brought into Southland by Mr. Allen before ever the Sedgwick scheme was announced. Mr, J), 1 M'Qucen (Southland) seconded the motion, and agreed that it would not bo wise to confine the motion to the Sedgwick scheme. They had had a very successful scheme in operation in Southland for some time. They, had found that the boys were of a good class, and very carefully selected, although there were, of course, black sheep in every flock. Personally lie could not understand how (lift Government could put tho matter off at all. (Hear, hear.) Over a .war's workinj in Southland could be pointed to, and the prime, mover in the scheme' there (Mr. Allen) was receiving most encouraging correspondent from the boys, whom he had brought out. Mr. Phillip (Otago) stated that thero were a number of Sedgwick boys on farms in his district, and they had proved rather better than ■ the colonial boys—less "wasters" and failures. It gave him great pleasure to support tho scheme. Mr. Foster mentioned thnt statements had been mad® by Labour bodies that this was a class of "sweated" labour, but this was absolutely incorrect. AVith no knowledge of farm work (and, for this reason, being of little use for a time) boys started with 10s. a week, and, as they were able to earn more, the wages were increased. The boys ranged from 17, 19, to 21 yeaTS of age, and, at tho end of twelve months, the majority of them were earning the current rate of wages. The bovs were not tied to any one employer, and, if they could not. get the ruling wage from the farmer whom they were with, they soon shifted to some one who would give them the wage. Tho resolution wag carried. Mr. Birch then moved: "That this conference expresses the thanks of tho farmers to Mr. Sedgwick in his philanthropic efforts to secure work for town boys from Great Britain, aad to settle them in the Dominion, and hopes that the Government will assist further immigration on the same lines." Mr. Horrell (North Canterbury) seconded' tho motion, and handed the president, a cheque for .£lO 10s. from the Provincial Conference iu North Canterbury towards a testimonial for Mr. Sedgwick. Tho president replied that ho had received XlO through the Marton branch, from a Hawko's Bay settler, in addition to which the Wellington Conference had collected ,C«i, and ho himself had private subscriptions amount™? to about _jo|) This made a total of .CS7 10s. The. resolution was carried amidst aptilause. ■■■