ALEGED NEGLECT OF BOYS ON FARMS.

Shannon News, 16 April 1926, Page 4

ALEGED NEGLECT OF BOYS ON FARMS.

COMPLAINT FROM MASTERTON. FLOCK HOUSE TRUSTEES INQUIRE MASTERTON, Last Night. At the last meeting of the Masterton branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr H. Evans, while discussing the allocation of immigrant boys to farmers, referred to one or two cases in which , he had heard of beys being neglected ; by their employers, and he expressed I the opinion that better treatment would have to be shown if they hoped to make good settlers of the lads. At to-day's meeting of the branch, , a letter was received frpni the Hon. Edward Newman,' M.L.C., chairman of the trustees of the body controlling Flock House, drawing attention to Mr Evans' remarks and asking that Mr Evans should either state publicly that the boys to whom h e referred were not; Flock House boys or supply the trustees with the names of the farmers who were not treating their boys properly. The letter added that it would become impossible for the trustees to carry out the work for which the Fund was created unless they could ensure, beyond doubt, that the boys and later the girls w r ho were indentured to farmers, were well and kindly treated. Already.they had - tbeen treated to severe and most groundless criticism by sections of the i Labour party, and naturally it would seize upon such suggestions ,as were made by Mr Evans as proof of the truth of its criticism, whereas the trustees had been assured that of the i 120 boys now out on farms, all were being well treated, and except in one or two cases, w r ere giving satisfaction to their employers.

When asked for a'statement at the meeting to-day, Mr Evans said that he had quoted only two cases—-one at Dannevirke, which was that of a Flock House boy, as had been admitted ! at the Coroner's inquest on the boy's death, and the other case lie knew of personally in this district. The latter, who was not a Flock House boy, had been employed on a farm on the East Coast, and had been left for weeks by himself, with not a living soul within eight miles of him. He contended that systematic /inspection was necessary to see that all boys working on farms were Well cared for/ 1 Mr C. C. Jackson (provincial president) said that inquiries were being made into the Dannevirke case, and steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence. He -thought Mr Evans was quite right in bringing cases before' the public, whether they were Flock House boys or not, for if they wanted to make good settlers . of any lads, they had to be sure that they were receiving proper treatment.