LADS FOR FARM WORK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 156, 13 April 1928, Page 7

LADS FOR FARM WORK

ANGLICAN CHURCH SCHEME. SATISFACTORY RESULTS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 12. A nartyi of twenty-five lads will arrive in by the Hororata from Liverpool on May 3, under the auspices of the Church of England Immigration Committee. So far 144 lads have been brought out under this scheme, and the committee has the satisfaction of knowing that 85 per cent, of them have remained in the original situations in farm work. There are still 150 more to come by steamers arriving in the next few months. Mr A. I). Stanley (secretary _ of the committee) stated this morning that the twenty-five boys on the Hororata had been bespoken for various parts of the Dominion. Mr Stanley made it clear that all lads selected in Britain and approved by the central committee in Lodon, were definitely intended ior ■farm work in New Zealand. The secretary remarked that the headquarters committee in Auckland was pleased with the percentage that had remained in their original situations. As foa- the remaining 15 per cent they were still working on the land, but owing to sales of farms and other circumstances, they had been posted by the committee to new positions. It is of interest to note that the lads are usually brought out in the late autumn or early winter, because at these seasons of the year farmers have more time to devote to their instruction. An interested member of the committee in London is liOi’d Jellicoe, and because of his knowledge of New Zealand he is of great assistance to the scheme. In Auckland an active oart is taken by Archbishop Averill as chairman of the general committee. The scheme had its inception in 1926, and its purpose is to serve both Britain and Ne!w Zealand by bringing out ihe right type of lad to assist the farmer. The parent committee very carefully selects suitable lads from sixteen "to eighteen years of age, who must produce satisfactory references from the headmasters of public schools and from the vicars of parishes, and they must also pass as medically fit. They are brought out in parties 1 of about illirby under adequate supervision, and wherever they go in New Zealand they are kept in direct touch with the vicars of parishes. Mr Stanley has some interesting letters which show that the scheme is appreciated alike by the lads and farmers. A farmer writes from Dannevirke concerning a lad who arrived in October last. “I was so pleased with his work and himself generally,” he states, “that al though I promised to pay him- 10s per week I have never paid him less than 20s per. week If he remains I will eer tainly increase his wages to what I consider he is worth. He is a gentlemanly hoy.” Other letters from farmers and from the boys themselves attest the happy outcome of the scheme.