THE PRIME MINISTER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 21 November 1912, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER

QUESTION OF FARM LABOUR. (By Tdegrapn—x ress Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night.. Replying to a deputation at Waahi, which waited upon him in regard to farm labour, Mr Alassev said that the Government intended to do more in the. future than -had been done in the past in this direction. The High Commissioner had been instructed accordingly. The rapidly increasing .liabilities of the country demanded an increase in the number of producers. He intended to look into the official reports of the Sedgwick experiment, which he believed) had been very successful. If it had been so there was no reason why it should not be repeated. The Government already had a scheme in hand to encourage labourers to go to the country. He was prepared to meet the needs of the country districts by following the scheme. ff any local body, or organisation of farmers, showed that there wa,s room to do so. the Government would take over land and provide for each worker a residence upon a. sufficient area of land for profitable occupation. All that would be required would be n guarantee that interest and sinking fund upon the outlay would' bo forthcoming. He would like to see the experiment tried, and felt sure it would be successful.