ABOUT IMMIGRANTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8451, 30 May 1907, Page 5

ABOUT IMMIGRANTS.

LABOURERS WANTED BY FARMERS.

(Post Correspondent.)

LEVIN, May 29,

An interesting discussion on immigration took place at the Farmers' Conference here yesterday, when Mr J. M'Leavey (Levin) moved—"That, owing to the scarcity of agricultural labour, the Gqvernment be asked to further assist in granting reduced passages, and also to provide, by the appointment of suitable agents, that the most suitable class be selected." At the present time the mover said, every one knew how hard it was for farmers to get suitable labourers. If suitable agents were appointed the right class of immigrant could be secured. Mr Stephens (Shannon) seconded the motion, and suggested that domestic servants should be added to its scope. Mr Moore (Makuri) gave some stories of the ' difficulties farmers in the backblocks have to contend with. Mr Barton (Whakataki) opposed the motion. He did so, because the district he represented was positively infested with swaggers, and settlers were afraid the army of dead-beats might be added to by further immigration. One man who had 400 acres of bush to deal with employed 440 men. He knew of one settler who had put up as many as 30 swaggers in a night. He declared he kept his cooks to feed swaggers. Mr Nivins (Tinui) did not think the motion would do any good. The pre-sent-day tendency was to drift into the towns. So far as he could learn, it was as difficult to get servant girls at Home as it was in New Zealand. Mr Morrison (Halcombe) stated that he had often got good men "off the roads." The trouble was that lots of farmers got good men for the harvest, but were, at no pains to keep good men in employment during the winter, Mr Crabbe urged that the search for good agricultural labourers should not be confined, to the British Isles. Very suitable man could be got from other European countries. The motion was carried.