ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2190, 1 July 1914, Page 9

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

The Master and Apprentice -Amend-1 Went.Bill, whioh was introduced in the Legislative Council yesterday by the, Hon.-H. 1). Bell, relates only to farm apprentices whoso passages from England to New Zealand are assisted by the Government. The Master and Apprentice Act, 1908, requires that the indenture of apprenticeship should be executed by tho parent ;or guardian of the boy, and by the employer. 'Compliance with this provision is impossible jn'cases where arrangement is made for immigration of boys to be subsequently employed/ The boys being under age, their own contract does not bind , t!i6m, The Government undertakes the corarol and caro. of' such boys, and , therefore enters into a more or less definite' airangement with the/parents, guardians, and relatives of such boys in tho Uni*.ed Kingdom for due provision being made in New Zealarid for the employment of the boy and for tho provision of proper ' food, clothing, and comfort. Unless the boy is bound to remain in' his employment, and be, subject to such control'by his employer as is 'provided in the. piaster and Apprentice Act, it !s ira-. possible for the Government to 'jerfoim its'engagements; Further, lt'ie'necessary that the boys should' be undor some control from tho time of vheir departure until their engagement m New Zealand. For thew> objects, provision is made for an indenture signed by the. High Commissioner and the boy becoming binding in England, and afterwards to the extent defined in Section 3. Special provision is made m Subsection (5) of Section 2. enabling the Minister.to alter tho indenture signed in England in a manner advantageous to- tho, boy, but not otherwise. .Provision is made by which tho apprentice: ship .extends to the age of twenty jciirsi This is necessary because it is net intended to engage boys, of an ago of less than sixteen, and it is desired to engage them up to an nee of Mimewhat over eighteen years, but under n'neteen. ' .