Sapling Migrants

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 372, 5 June 1928, Page 10

Sapling Migrants

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHEME

Boys Who Are Winning Through

IT is claimed that the Church of England scheme for the settlement of English boys in New Zealand has proved eminently successful. Though only in its third year of operation it is considered to have outlived the phase of an ambitious experiment.

The idea originated in Great Britain. Superficially regarded it is a scheme for getting jobs for English boys. But it goes deeper. Fundamentally and essentially it is an attempt to balance the population accounts of the Empire. Britain’s debit becomes New Zealand’s credit. Prime mover in the scheme was the Church of England Council of Empire Settlement, with headquarters in London. Appreciating the impossibility of finding employment for the surplus youth of the nation coming forward, the Church issued an appeal to the daughter churches in all the Dominions asking their co-operation in an effort to formulate a sound policy of migration. Response was immediate Boys are now being sent to all parts of the Empire. They are received everywhere by the Church which oversees their establishment and watches their welfare. The London end of the organisation has among its officers the Archbishops of Canterbury, and York, president and vice-president respectively. Associated with the council are men whose

this year, 42 out of a quota of 150. Next year it is hoped to increase the batch to 200. So there are now 192 boy migrants somewhere in the Dominion. Where are they, and what are they doing? Without a single exception they are at ! work on farms of one kind and another. To this end they were brought out, and at this work they are required to remain. Under no pretext whatever are the boys allowed to throw j up their farming jobs and come :<» town for a change of occupation. START ON SMALL WAGES Mostly town-bred and possessed «»f little or no experience, the boys are started on a wage of 10s, and, of course, found. To give the lads an encouraging introduction to their new sphere, the Church makes every en- i deavour to see that its proteges are placed with sympathetic farmers and in the right environment. They are not to be pampered, but are required to work and give efficient service as they llarn. A farmer accepting a boy contracts to teach him the business and take a fatherly interest in his progress. The fact that 85 per cent, have remained where originally placed is eloquent testimony to the care exercised by the Church in determining the requirements of farmers and gauging the suitability of a boy for the particular environment in which he is offered a home. It happens from time to time that he is misplaced initially. He is perhaps too slow a milker or is temperamentally at variance with his employer. A reshuffle is made and the young worker drafted elsewhere. As soon as the boys prove their worth their wages are raised. Most of those who arrived in 1926 are now earning from 30s to 35s a week. None of the young fellows is a pauper. All have some money, and many bring substantial sums into the country. NONE BUT FARMERS Progress of the scheme has been watched with no little interest by the Government Immigration Department. Its working has invited close scrutiny, and the department has reported most favourably on the enterprise. It is farthest from the intention of the Church to supplant New Zealand boys by backing a scheme of peaceful penetration, or fostering a sort of surreptitious influx likely to prejudice the rights of the youth of this country. Not long ago the committee in Auckland received a communication from the Home organisation asking what were the possibilities of finding jobs for young men trained for the trades and professions. “None whatever,” was the Church's summary response. ‘None wanted but intending farmers.” Encouraged by the success of its venture the council in London is making inquiries with a view to the establishment of farm settlements of about 100 acres, by which its trainees may ultimately possess their own small farms.

experience of overseas requirements and limitations has proved invaluable in the selection of suitable types. Earl Jellicoe, in his capacity as chairman of the executive committee, has thrown into the work the weight of practical knowledge and considered judgment. In New Zealand the official receiving station and distributing centre is in Auckland. The new arrivals are met by the Church of England Immigration Committee, of which the chairman is Archbishop Averill. Up to the present a total of 192 boys between the ages of 3.6 and 18 have come into the country under the scheme. Fifty were brought out in 1926, 100 in 1927, and to date

The adaptability of the English boy. town bred and raw, to the rigors of Dominion farm life has shown that the Church’s policy of bringing out the youthful migrant is a wise one. Such is the type most likely to take root and grow to become a national asset, whereas the transplanting of old trees has only too often resulted in a liability.