DRIFT TO CITIES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19567, 13 March 1929, Page 18

DRIFT TO CITIES.

NEci> FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS. >.Z.'S MIGRATION PROBLEMS DISCUSSED. [nxxs riBBB Special Service.] WELLINGTON, March 12. What was' described as an unhealthy sign in the national life of New Zeraand was referred to by the rhnrmau (Mr A. Leigh Hunt ■ at the .Migration Conference to-day.

•'Have we :.u> city lads to-day who are kc-u to jfet on the land .* No. Do we find the fanner's son striving to follow in his father's footsteps!" said Mr Hunt who went on to say that although :■> • i■« only a unall busin.-ss man in V*. i :'igti>n hf was pestrrrd by farnirra" - .Hi writing t'i him for k ju ihe t' i t .

A .Mr Hant: ■>'<-n. tiicre is something r..d;.'.niy r.-ronj.'. Mr 11. G. D.rki'-. M.I 1 ., *• iiil ho iva« quit< ?ati«lied that any intr*ilig«-nt boy nsk'- •. «in rhf i:i ni. No aeiount of cduca; ion • r u!d give th<- l>oys a Mrs toward* th? Irind. It tvouiil give 11, .-Hi :i j>ia<4 (lip o'hfr »av, He- r. r.' :ir.} In Ills o;dni' n the Arhitration "-.i< duin™ inor" 1 than thf* land.

Mr A. r:,„|.(WMi .'WaiUtto; said that the t'.ntt.fp to day that young nun v. rre nut from England

v. Ihi r fiiild lo.«<* tlt~ :i .Npw Zealand farnicr at < I . bu! ••• ho knriy littfi- about prti'-tic-al i"ar,niii^. Mr J»irki<- said If w-.-if "'ronplv in favour of v. hat !.tprrned I'oys to tie- land. "Von can build as many Ma.oey «a* you but you won't fa'in-r?." ho dr.-lar-*d. '*lt would have liren ;«<t to t**tablisl]f»d a r.-ntra! r. r t ,s?;itiou in«fr-.Td of a colhg<' vf University grad.-."

Mr Chapman: L« College, nnv thirty (•!"• but a r«'«.enreli hf.-itionf

.Mr Dirkir: We j r p spending too murh money on it. 1 >1 at the timr to jotting up a college of l.'niversitv grade. That i« njv- point. Mr M. J. < orrigati (Waimat-) said that tin- drifi to the ;i. -a n j could onlv be stopped by making rily life ]<\<.s attractive. When vi)un« nion rould ram 14b a day on relief work in the town.* th(*v were not Jtninjj out into tho rooatry to drive a team for £2 a week.