THE SEDGWICK BOYS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1381, 6 March 1912, Page 6

THE SEDGWICK BOYS.

AN ANNIVERSARY LETTER. The following ia an "anniversary letter" written by Mr. T. E. Sedgwick to the boys whom J\e brought from England a year ago last January:—' "Dear comrades, —A year ago to-day all the members of our party set foot on New Zealand soil for the first time, and, according to the most recent reports, both public and private, they have, with two exceptions, given satisfaction to their employers, and have proved that town lads are the best that can be had on colonial farms, and there is nothing to prevent them all becoming well settled colonists on their own holdings in a few years' time. The excellence of the arrangements made by the Labour Department, and the good feeling of the employers, have also stood the test of time.

"As, during the past year, your clothing, travelling, food, and other expenses havo co-.t several hundred pounds, I think the people in the towiis ehould now realise how iniportant it is to them to get other lads into, the country whero they are wanted, and where local supply cannot fulfil the demand.

"I have already written , to you as. to how to arrnngo for getting out your brothers and , sisters nt nominated passage rates, and I should not bo surprised if tho Immigration Department at -Wellington allowed' you to nominate your', mates ns well, provided there was definite work waiting for them in your district. You could arrange for them to repay tho amount of their fares to you. "Having begun so well, I feel confident that all tho S.B.'s will do oven still better in the following year. If you have any photographs taken of yourselves, T hope you each will soud me a copy. Our year's teototalism expires to-day, but I propose to keep it up, and hope you will join mo in renewing the pledgo for another twelve months—let mo know what you each decide. ■

"Tho last six months at Homo hnvo been a weary and difficult time, but the results have exceeded my. most sanguine hopes. All the colonial authorities, both at Homo and overseas, have realised tho value of town boys on farms. The Home authorities will,"! hope, soon .begin to assist tho migration of steady lads and lasses to the overseas Dominions, without their qualifying for such assistance by becoming 'unemployed , or 'paupers,' and I have circulated reports and manifestos to tho COO Boards of Guardians and a thousand individuals, havo written articles in various papers and journals, , havo interviewed several hundred people privately, and lectured on New Zealand at mimurous centres, both in London and in the country. As a result 1 .havo now nearly all the money I need for the next party, and can rais-e the fares for 500 boys, if necessary. One friend has promised to pay for tho fares of somo parties of girls, and a quartet of gentlemen havo mloptcd tho scheme for ono portion of Australia. "Birmingham and Manchester will soon bo in line with Liverpool, and I hope Bristol and other towns will follow suit. We aro arranging some big boys' meetings in London and elsewhere. The scheme is rapidly developing. In fact, it would not surprifo me if 1000 lads and lasses sought brighter lives and prospects within tho Empire during 1912, and moro next year. I could have done nothing had you boys failed, and all the credit therefore belongs to you. "I hopo vou all writo Homo rogularly, and shall bo plnrt to hear from you all when you have timo to write, but letters Home are the first duty in correspondence. ]f possible I will look you all up this year, especially thoso I did not see last year, as I hopo and believe "tho New Zealand Government will soon authorise another party being brought out uuder similar arrangements. "Pioaso give my best regards to your employers.—l remain, your sincere friend and brother, i Tlios.-E. Sedgwick."