SEDGWICK BOYS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 6

SEDGWICK BOYS.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL. TO BRING OUT 200' LADS. . GOVERNMENT APPROACHED. ' An offer to bring a.further batch of 200 boys out to New Zealand, to become farm workers, has been made by Mr. T. E. Sedgwick, who brought out a party of fifty three years ago by way of experiment. '- The success of the scheme haa led Mr. Sedgwick to make an offer tc tho Government, contained in a letter ho yesterday forwarded to tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. 1 ,1 . Massoy), as follows: — '.'On tho eve of my departure, from Now Zealand, I beg leave to submit for tho 'consideration of yourself, and tho Government a proposal which, if accept-' od, should proyo of tho utmost bonetit, both present and prospective, to your Dominion and to tW 'Mother Country. During an extended tour through ,the Dominion, as-on former visits, 1 have been struck with tho : immense areas which will doubtless bo mado available for closer settlement within the :noxt few years, but owing to the paucity of the present population, sufficient numbers of young people are not now being trained upon tho land to occupy the farms thuß rendered possible in the future, ,and those who ! may come out without knowledge of local conditions are likely to'lose their capital in gaining experience. Increased efforts to- . wards junior ■ migration are therefore I essential for' tho future prosperity of the' Dominion. . . r Success of Rura! Workors. ' x "The town boys who have been now on your farms for orer three years have proved the success of their typo as rural workers, and .the employers :have by their actions demolished the ■ suggestions/ of improper treatment., j The experience gained'has yielded many J valuable lessons in selection, placing out and supervision of tho lads, in consequence of which wo can guarantee nearly 100 per cent, of future parties remaining on the land, and repayments of amounts advanced of equally satisfactory proportions. "As it is estimated that five hundred suoh lads could bo , now immediately i placed out on farms, and the Department of Labour, I believe, concurs in this, I would suggest, that I be allowed to bring out a party of two Hundred, so as to keep the supply well within tho demand. 1 would bo prepared to guarantee the repayment of the fares by such lads if they were placed under the control of the Labour Department, who have not only had experience in the work, but have left nothing to be desired in its eseoution. The ImmiKration.Department could simultaneous-. _iy, continue to safeguard the interests ox tho country lads, as it is highly desirable that the two movements should 'be kept distinct. Moreover, my committee would not approve of my guaranteeing the repayments unless the work were conducted by the samo Department as has proved itself so successfol in the. past.

Conditions of Employment. i "I would suggest that 90 per cent, of tho lads should be under eighteen, the Jiearor io sixteen years of ago the net.' ■ . tor; that the apprenticeship ehould he : until tho lads reach nineteen, provided has beon at least twelve months on tho land; the banked wages to be retained at the discretion of the Secretary for Labour until tho lads como of age; that they should'be brought from four or five centres, and each contingent should be placed out in different localities {Scotch boys going to Otaeo and Southland); that tho minimum wace should be, say, 10s. a week, but to Sβ feed after arrival of the boys (between the -Department and the employer concerned—perhaps after a short probationary period of service), the clothing to bo purchased (as required) by the Department, which has proved the most satisfactory arrangement in the past; that n iiat # rate should be quoted to the first situation to include expenses on tho voyage (average 12s. a head), maintenance after arrival (if any), rail to situation. Thus, if your Government decide to contribute £6 towards the £14 farethe boys bo required to repay £10. Any balance of the extra £2 could be applied towards the loss caused by death or ■non-payment from any other cause. I .■would gladly select these lads for you, [as they and their; posterity would mve so enormous an advantage- , by their 'transfer to New Zealand.

A Creat Demand. .ffeugment I would remind tfou that when the original fifty came out, 2pO .persons applied for them in * nd ; on thoir ' departure (being delayed fresh applications wore bnvited, and numbered 300, and this waa .'before the utility of tho lads fo.d been C I hO S? y° u , wil l> able to 'tTt» "f™™ 70 . by cable,' so as other paits of tho Empire before the Vclaims of New Zealand have- been met"

Another Scheme. : An important arrangement has also peon^completed by Mr.' Sed R wick, by which parties of selected English lacft will receive-, an adequate training „ iNew Zealand m all farming operations, .mis Jiae been made possible by Mr. P i<. aargqod offerink.his estate<near Lake jVVanakaj .Otago; f Q r this purposo.:. Mr bargood as. prepared rto 1 accommodate a constant succession of lads on his property. On;a recent visit to England ho ,-.was so impressed with tho poor livina in the-large cities-for tho [workers that ho dotermined to help as (many of the boys an possible. Mr. .;wiok has been authorised to select suitable boys, and is leaving New Zealand 3mmoaiately. for, this purpose. On nririval in Now Zealand the boys .will be •taton to Mr. Sargood's farm, and , given n thorough .instruction in every branch ef fanning work. Their hours of labour mil be from 45 t0.50 per week, and tho minimum wage 7s. 6d. per.week. Tho coys will'be freo agents at all timefli