BOY IMMIGRANTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 9 June 1910, Page 4

BOY IMMIGRANTS

MINISTER OF LANDS' VIEWS'. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. Opinion in New Zealand is sharply divided on the scheme for the importation* of British boys (not necessarily accustomed to farm work) for a form of apprenticeship to farmers. Conversing on this subject with aU Evening Post representative to-day the Minister of Agriculture explained the Government's position. "I had not an 1 opportunity of seeing Mr. Sedgwick (the envoy who visited New Zealand). This philanthropic lnovement was promoted in the Old Country," he said "In my opinion. the boys should be trained before coming out here to farming work. The Government was urged to take a good many, and he thought that fifty lads would not make any difference one way or another to the people of this country. The Government will see that the conditions under which the boys will live <r,id work are reasonable and comfortable. In Wellington province alone I understand, fifty boys can be absorbed under conditions favorable alike to the farmers and the lads. Regarding the future development in New Zealand," Mr. McTCenzie added, "it is obvious that if our lands are to be opened up and settled, the country must have a very considerable increase in its population. While it is contended that there is labor sufficient for present requirements, we must have a large increase of population of the right class to meet the needs of the future, if the developments which are now imminent take .nlace."