FARM WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 6

FARM WORK

MIGRATION SCHEME YOUTHS FROM BRITAIN TRAINED BY Y.M.C.A. P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. The immigration of 50 trained or partially trained, farming youths within the next few months from Britain is envisaged by a scheme now under Ministerial consideration. The plan was discussed at a meeting of the Manawatu branch of Federated ■ Farmers of New Zealand on Tuesday, and a circular from the- organisation’s headquarters setting out features of the scheme aroused much interest among'those present. Six Hundred Trained in a Year Tne scneme in ihe tirsc place was submitted to the Immigration .Department by the J.New Zealand Y.M.L.A. Tne Y.M.C.A. in Britain operates a number of training farms mere for youths wno want to adopt larming as a earner, youths of aoout i* to iti years oi age are carefully selected ior a training course oi one to two years at one of the Y.ivi.C.A.s iarms. ano are then placed in employment with selected larmers. Six hundred youths were so trained in one year. Having been advised that a number of youtns were keen to migrate to the Dominion, the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. got into touch with the Immigration Department, and at its request a cablegram has now been despatched to the Y.M.C.A. in London asking how soon 5u youths could be recruited to come to New' Zealand under the assisted immigration scheme. The cablegram also asks how soon 100 could be recruited and’ whether the first 50 could be ready to sail from Britain in January. The London Y.M.C.A. was advised that New Zealand would be interested only in youths between the ages of 17 and 21 years who had completed at lecst one’ year’s training. • It is stated that Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Workers’ Union have been consulted, and that both organisations have agreed to support the proposal to bring out 50 youths in the meantime. Allocation by Local Committees The methods proposed for allocating i- igrants 4 o individual farms, which ar e stated to have been discussed with the organisations, are for each draft arriving to be allocated proportionately to the various farming districts in consultation with Federated Farmers and the Workers’ Union. - Each district quota is to be allocated .to individual farmers by a local committee of representatives of the Immigration .Department, Federated Farmers and the Workers’ Union, taking into consideration the suitability of the employer, the accommodation available, and the nature of the work on which the youths would be engaged. The matter now needs only the approval of the Minister and the receipt of information from the London Y.M.C.A. whether 50 youths will, be available and on what date. •••■•_/>•