CHARGE AGAINST FARMERS.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 19 March 1927, Page 7

CHARGE AGAINST FARMERS.

Press Association.i 4

MINISTER'S SPIRITED REPLY.

tPer

ASHBURTON, Last Night. nu«. Mr Nosworthy has s'ent the folowing letter to the Rev. L.. B. Dalley, Auckland rin reference to the latfer's allegations regarding the treatment of a boy immigrant: — "Owing to my absence from Wellington your letter of the 14th inst. has just reached me. I had already seen your statement puhlished in the Press, but preferred to await the receipt of your letter itself before replying. It is to be regretted that you are still unable to furnish information without which it is impossible for me to make any investigation into the case of the boy you refer to. There is at present no evidence even that the boy was an assisted immigrant under any of the Go.vernment's schemes, and it is ucfortunate, to say the leasf of it, that you, in perfectly good faith; no dou'bt, should have cast a reflection not only on the admittedly succesful policy of the Government, but also on a large number of farmers who are carrying out faithfully and sympathetically their obligations to the hoys in their employment. The Department is fully alive to its responsibilities in this matter, and will always welcome informations that may tend to the removal of legitimate grievances, or in any way advance the welfare of the hoys, but it must be evident that criticism that is not. supported by sufficient detail to enable enquiry to be made, is not only useless but apt to prove mischievous. I appreciate your desire to respect the confidence o^your informants, but I can assure you no information you may care to send me in confidence will be allowed to operate detrimentally to the boy where there is any substantial ground of complaint." I : ,