BOYS FOR FARMS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 162, 16 January 1914, Page 1

BOYS FOR FARMS.

Employers -Well Satisfied.

Government's Good Work.

WELLINGTON, Jaruary 14

Id connection with the importation of "boy" labour by the Government and the Hon. Mr bell's reference to the Sedgwijk scheme, a Hongotea faimer, who has had actual experience with fome ol the Sedgwick 1 ad?, writc3 an interesting Kter to the "New Z aland Times."' He says: "You will ha interested to learn that in this neighbourhood five of the buys brought to New Zealand by Mr Sedgwick in 1911 are working at present for tne farmers. As one of their employers, I can only pay that ;very consideration has been shown to the buys. The lad emtloyed by me came from London, and had no previous farm experience, yet, after a mouth's trial, the Labour Department ofticials thought he was wor.h iss pc week, and 1 had to pay it. I vva? relieved of all liability in respect to clothing, and, although I considered the rate of wages rather high, I knew J could net get other assistance for less. The other boys were treated in much the same manner as to wageß after inquiry had been made by the Department, and it is o ly fair to add that later ir. the year, when the dairy season opened, and my employee was offered 25s by a dairy farmer the Department would not allow him to leave my employment. I raised his wages to 17s 6d, and later, after twelve mor.thu' cervice, to 2Us. The lad is cow twenty-one years of age, and is still with me, and receives 25s per week. On leaving the contrrl of the Labour Department he received a money oid.r for nearly £6O, representing his saving?, a:d the lad iealise3 new the wisdom of the action of the Departmcnt in controlling his employment, aj on my farm le has been taught to milk, plough, fence, etc., whilst on the chiiy farm he would have done little else besides milking, and ran the risk of losing his job at the end of the scaion. lam quite certain that the boys row coming to New Zealand will not woik byally or long fcr 7s 6i per week. The minimum is far to) Irv, and in this district alone the whole 50 would be employed, seeing they have had som2 farm trainirg, at 15s to £1 per week. Th: bis 'six-footer' you quote as having had several years experience could easily command 25s to 303. It is a matter for astonishment that the Department does not insist on a higher minimum wage, especially as farmers have applied to the Labour Department aid have been waiting for weeks past tor farm hands and cannot get them even at 25s per week and found." The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. H. D. Bell), who is in charge of the Immigration Department, has issued a mandate that no further information regarding the "boy" immigrants who anive at Auckland by the Ayrshire on the 17th January is to be furnished by Ihe iJepartment until their arrival.