IMMIGRATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 10

IMMIGRATION.

FARM LABOURERS NEEDED. DEPARTMENT'S ACTION. Bomits from various parts of the Dominion, urging, a continuation of the system of assisted immigration, wero considered at the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. The tenor of the remits showed that there is still felt in country districts a need of fanir labourers and domestic servants. Mr. J. G. Wilson, said that ho liad been speaking with an officer of the Department, and Was led to believe that tho Department favoured some such scheme as organised by Mr. Sedgwick, for bringing out suitable boys. Tho Department were - sending out a circular to farmers on these lines, to ascertain how many boys could bo placed. "Ono of tho great objections Mr. Sedgwick had," said Mr. Wilson, "was that the boys might get. out of hand on the boats, unless they were supervised," and there was their health and general conduct to be considered.' Mr. Sedgwick had promised to come out with the next batch of boys. It was decidcd to reply to that effect to the Minister. A letter received from the Undor-Sccre-. tary of tho Department of Education was as follows:—"I have tho honour, by direction of the Hon. Minister of Immigration, to inform you that the Government has decided to give to each farmer in New Zealand tho opportunity of procuring boy labour, such boys being selected, as far as possible, from the Agricultural districts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. With that object it is proSDsed that each farmer throughout tho ominion wilj be supplied with a copy of the enclosed form. As soon as sufficient applications reach this Department a cablegram will be sent to the High Commissioner, asking him to send tho boys out in batches. Tho wages of the boys to bo not less than 7s. 6d. per week for the first year." Tho form referred to dealt with conditions'of passage, etc. Mr. G. W. Leadley favoured boy labour in preference to men. There were so many things which had to be unlearnt in New Zealand. The "Boy Scout" movement in England should be looked to, he said, to supply suitable boys. ~ . Mr. W. Ford thought the nature of the employment should bo explained to tho boys before they came out, so that they would not be disappointed when they arrived, and so drift back to the cities. There should be great care taken at Home in the selection of boys. Mr. Wilson read from a pamphlet prepared by Mr. Sedgwick, in which it was clearly explained that the work was hard, the life lonely, but healthy, and that only farming work was available for boys coming out under his scheme. "There was no laxity at Home by Mr. Sedgwick," said Mr. Wilson, "and that is where I fear the Department will err in not taking sufficient advantage of his experience." Proceeding, Mr. Wilson thought the Department might engage Mr. Sedgwick to carry out the work, as ho was so enthusiastic. Mr. G. Gardner did not think a few "Sedgwick boys" were going to solve the problem. Mr. Wilson: That is only a part of tho scheme. Mr. H. A. Nevins thought that if tliey could not get men enough from tho British Isles they should try Norway and Sweden. Many good settlers had como out from there. Mr. M'Queen: What wo want to do is to peoplo this country. I hold that enough has not been dono in calling tho attention of farmers and farm labourers to the splendid opportunities of making homes in New Zealand. Mr. M'Queen suggested sending someone Homo to got amongst the farming community. A resolution was finally passed urging on the Government the necessity of proceeding with an activc immigration policv, preferably on the lines of tho Sedgwick scheme.