BOYS FOR THE FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 20 January 1914, Page 6

BOYS FOR THE FARM.

ABBTVAIi OF AYBSHIRE. USEFUL YOUNG AGRICULTURISTS. THE GERM OF SOCIALISM. AND THE WAGES QUESTION. ' When the -Minister of Internal Affairs, &ccoEmpsiued by the innmgra.tion officer, Captain Ewan Smith, approached the Ayrshire aJboot half past seven tins morning, half a hundred psrits of curious young eyes 'watched ihis arrival from across the ship's rails. Their owners were the parly of country-bred -boye from the Old Land, who had come oat as wards of the New Zealand Government under the charge of Sergeant-Major W. H. Cooper, their destination being farms in ■various parts of the two- ~t»TiA» The lads—come of them are ■indeed heftylooking youths, of over 20 years, bail tram, almost every quarter of the British Isles, one coming from Scotland, cix from Irel&nd, and the remainder from. England, the-majority of them possessing ifche isoft elurraig accent of the Southern - conniies. The band, regarded in fcalk, present much the same appearance of health and vigour -as would any other average half hundred of countrygrown lads, while individually a number of them are evidently lads whose upbringing has included other matters and teachings beside a grounding in farm work. In. short, the whole 51 have the promise of becoming a very desirable acquisition to aar population, and from among their ranks will -doubtless 'be numbered future stalwarts of agricultural breeders of prize stock and authorities on husbandry. THE INTRODUCTION. After getting a clean discharge from the port health officer, the party were mustered on the bridge deck, and briefly addressed Iby the Minister, who informed the lads about some of their .future duties, exhorted them to industry and a full use of their opportunities to learn under tile- new conditions of rtbeir adoption, and acquainted them of their several destinations. An invitation from the Hon. M. Bell to ask questions produced a broadside of eager inquiries, ■which, being satisfactorily disposed of, three hearty cheers were given each for the ■ Minister and for Sergeant-Major Cooper, w-ho is evidently popular with his charges, and whom he in turn declares to be a good, cheerful and willing lot of lads, possessing a full share of youthful spirits, tout very amenable to all necessary -regulations. and discipline. A CHEERFUL COMPANY. The sergeant-major joined the party at Euston, travelling with them to Liverpool, where they embarked on the Ayrshire as far away as November 22nd last, so that all were well tired of the sea, and eager once more to tread terra firma. A part of the contract for the voyage was that -the boys should perform all the work necessary in their own quarters, and they entered intoitbe mess and cabin work with great goodwill, arranging matters among themselves as to routine and shifts without any direction from the sergeant-major. Most of ■them' also took a turn in the stokehold, and assisted at other work, ■this being quite voluntary, and undertaken by the lads in the zest of adventure and novelty. Sports were, of course, held on the way out, and extended over some twelve or thirteen days, including running, jumping, .gymnastics, boring, wrestling, and other exercises, the Champion athlete of the party being a young fellow of about 18 years, named Joy. Sicsness, save for mal-de-mer, which all except two of the half-hundred experienced in the early part of the voyage, was happily of small account, and everything went smooth and merrily from port to port. A run ashore at Durban and also at Hobart, no restrictions whatever being placed on their landing, broke the tedium of a voyage lasting over eight weeks. THE LEAVEN OF UNREST; A first glance at these lads who have been brousrht out as boy immigrants for indenture to farmers occasions a slight shock of surprise, which can be better understood when it ie learnt that some of them are : pretty well six feet in their chocs, and have visible stubble in their theeks. -Generally speaking Ithey are more stocky than lank in .build, the average weight of the -party toeing 127 lbs., with a -minimum of IOOIbs., and a maximum of ITOIhs. Although it is to be presumed that the lads tbemeelvee were acquainted with the conditions under which they -enrigzaied, a leaven.of discontent was working among some of them *when epoken !to -this anorning. "This is a great fraud," laughed a young immigrant ac he leant against the rail smoking a cigarette.. An inquiry produced the explanation -that the remark referred to the 7/6 a week wages for the first year. "Six and six of that is docked to pay our fare and a bob for pocket money," he remarked -with some scorn. Another joined in with the i announcement that he was earning £1 a week on a farm in the Old Country. "Then why did you not <;«ne out as an assisted passenger, in which caee you would have been an entirely free agent on arrival?" wae the query put to him, Another lad naively replied for his shipmate: "'Because you could -never save the £8 or £10 on a farm at Home to { pay the fare." This declaration somewhat discounted the plaint -of the aggrieved one, who, however, remarked > that he understood 7/6 a week wae to be the minimum, but that higher wages would be paid according to the size and ability of .the individual youth. This remark was greeted with a murmur of endorsement, and it seemed pretty clear that the majority of the lads -were .under this impreesion. A number of them would certainly be-cheap labour to any farmer at £.1 a -week. "But you ere going to be clothed and taught, and have all been found places where you will be sure of good and fair -treatment," suggested the visitor, "dothed! Moet of ue have brought .enough clothes to last a year, and as /or the places, .they tell as there is plenty of work doing out here," was the retort. "(What do they give Uβ in -the 'bush?" was a question next put in a little chorus, indicating notkme of enterprise unconnected with their undertaking. A number of lads displayed a curiosity about the agricultural machinery in use, whether 'fanners go in for breeding prize stock oat here, and levelled other questions pertinent to the progress of country life, indicating a keenness of interest and a knowledge of how things are done in the land which gave promise of soon proving -the 'mettle of their posture. But it was evident that a spirit of socialism and interest ■was already at -work among them. A number of the lads left for the north this afternoon, some 24 of the party being bound for farms in the North of Auckland. The bulk of the others-Trill trerei .South under the charge of Bergeent-Major Cooper ■H their different destinations* *-■ ~,,