PROSPECTS AS FARMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1926, Page 1

PROSPECTS AS FARMERS

A. PARENT’S INVESTIGATIONSAUCKLAND, Feb. 13. Investigation on his own account of the prospects for English public school hoys on the land in New Zealand is being made by Mr PI. T.’ Sboosmith, a retired banker, of London. His own boy lias come to the Dominion under the existing scheme, and Mr Sboosmith is also acting on behalf of a largo number of other parents in Britain, who approached him on learning that he intended visiting the Dominion, asking him to interview their hoys and ascertain whether they were happy and contented. Air Sboosmith arrived in Nbw Zealand in December, and has spent most of the time since on various farms, principally in the Bay of Plenty district. closely examining the condition' of farming in this country. He had Been told in London that a farmer should lie able to retire after fifteen

years spent in acquiring a. competency, provided lie- had a suitable Dominion training, and also had sufficient capital to start with. Air Shoosmith stated that he had noticed farmers of fifty-five to seventy years of age still hard at work, and the deduction lie made was that they should have retired before this if they were able to do so. “Let me say that I am delighted with the country, and the people,” said Atr Shoosniilh, “hut the question of the outlook for English public school hoys is a. very difficult one. T am quite safe in saying, generally spent iug. that the training of the hoys during their three years’ apprenticeship with New Zealand farmers is excellent, hut the prospects after this stage has been completed ana somewhat uncertain. In the first place to obtain agricultural land of good quality means the outlay of a large amount, of capital. which the majority of hoys do not possess, unless they saddle themselves with heavy mortgages. T venture to suggest that the hoys, on arrival in New Zealand, should lie placed at one of thi? large agricultural colleges, or on the Ruakura State Farm, to undergo. say. a six months’ course of training. which would equip flioni in the same way as Now Zealand school hoys are prepared for farming life.

“If flip Government, once the (toys have completed their apprenticeship, could see its way to throw open really suitable areas for selection at a low cash price, or on a cheap rental, then young men who desired to take up farms for themselves would have a better chance of success, without the anxiety of having to borrow money on short-term loans. If some such a scheme as this were adopted, it would induce many of the parents to come out to New Zealand and settle in the conntry, and so give financial help in getting their sons established. T know several parents who have actually spoken that way. but these people are not large capitalists, and they want to ho certain that the futures of their sons are assured.

“Finally.” concluded Mr Shoosmith “no representative system has heen evolved in New Zealand of selecting the farmers. The hoys are .selected by a representative of the farming community, and to secure equity the farmers to whom tho boys are apprenticed should be chosen by a representative of the hoys in New Zealand.”