IMMIGRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 317, 31 May 1913, Page 5

IMMIGRATION.

BOY LABOR. ' A CANTERBURY PROPOSAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. At the North Canterbury Farmers' Union conference, Colonel Cossgrove, Dominion Chief Scout, waited on the conference yith reference to a proposal which he had alreadv made to the executive regarding tlie importation of suitable boys from the Boy Scout organisation at Home. The Colonel said that it would only cost about £l4 to bring each scout out, and they could guarantee that the boys were healthy, honest, and well-trained in manliness and usefulness. He hoped members of the conference would be able to give him all information in connection with the matter, and he could forward it Home to the Chief Scout organisation in England. Captain A. H. Marciel, Chief Sea Scout, supported the suggestion, and commended the matter to the earnest consideration of the cenference. In reply to questions Colonel Cossgrove said that it <was possible that some of the boys would /have had a certain training in country life; .probably most would be town boys. He had got a very non-committal reply from the Minister of Immigration to a leauest for assistance in the matter when he had written to him.

Mr. Leadley said that there was not only a demand for boys of a good stamp but these boys would have good prospects. He Wanted to know if Colonel Cossgrove had put himself in communication with Rev. Sedgwick, who had successfully imported boys. Personally he would not worry much about the boys' training so much as their physique and character. He had found men from Home had much to unlearn He was sure the scheme would have the hearty encouragement of the whole of .the Farmers Union, which was a great and powerful organisation. Mr. Evans said that he was sure that at least thirty boys could be placed in excellent situations practically at once if they were available.

On the motion of Mr. Leadley it was decided to elect a special committee to in v Vi® 0y Scout organisation in New Zealand, and endeavour to formulate & workable scheme.