BOY IMMIGRANTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 4

BOY IMMIGRANTS.

Sir, —With your permission I should like to have a word ro farming boys now being introduced to this Dominion by our Reform Government. Now Mr. Larcy I note mnkee out that the farmers are going to wax fat through the aid of cheap labour supplied by these boys. Who ever heard such ridiciilous no&Eonso. It would bq more credit to all eucli gentlemen as Mr. Larcy if ha would think matters out before plunging into print. A farmer, to get one of these boys, has to gua-rantee three years' work, a very easy matter if nothing unforseeli happens, but'if they do he ha,s to pay the piper. Ho- has, to start with, find £10 as a deposit for this lad, then lie has to guarantee a wage of 7s. Gd. per week, besides finding the boy in elothes. What guarautco has tho (armor got to know Jii-s boy is going to prove a success? None. Aiitl if lie proves to bo a waster lie has again to pay the piper and look pkasant. If Mr. Larcy would just for a short time get onto tho land ho would soon find out that tho farmer's lot is far from all being a bt?d of roses, and be would welcome and hail with joy anything in tho nature of farm labour that was willing te work in the country. Prom Mr. Larcy's .remarks -on© would Ibink that tho average Dominion farmer was a wealthy squatter, whereas ho is in reality a poor struggling niau on ■the ..laud, called )» farawr,'.- ■ We:nil -Itnow■ them are in this country a few' rich Squatters, but they are vastly in the minority, and it is not for their good .that t-hc-so farm boys arr> being brought out. Take our average city youth of to-day and see if you can place Mm with out town folks in a hotter iwsjtson than thesp bovs are being placed in the country, and I say, without fear of contradiction, that in nino cases out of ten it cannot bo dono. In fact, unless the city boy's parents reside in town jt is impossible for him. to get work that will kavo him any remuneration at; all after ho has provided food, dotfres,' etc. Now, fir, in conclusion lot reo say (and I feel sure I am veiom<? with almo9t_ every striiggliiig farmer of the Dominion) all power to our Reform Government for bringing these boys to our shores, and may every ono they bring prove a blessing to tho'farming community, and when they attain tho ai;o of men, stand loyaly to tho Government that was thp means of bringing thorn to these shores.—l am, etc.,