ENGLISH BOYS ON FARMS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 27 March 1930, Page 6

ENGLISH BOYS ON FARMS.

WORK IN TARANAKI.

an association FORMED.

An association of English public school boys has been formed in New Plymouth to further the interests of the boys in Taranaki. This is one of the results of the immigration scheme established by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce.

A gathering of the English public school boys who have come to New Zealand under the Chamber's scheme was held at the home of Mr and Mrs T. C. List, New Plymouth, on Saturday iast, and besides the English boys there were present Messrs R. S. Abraham Dominion secretary of the Association of Public Schoolboys of Great Britain, C. Carter, chairman of the immigration committee of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, B. White, the Rev. F. Clark, and Mr V. Duff, secretary of the Chamber.

In the course of an address, Mr Abraham said that steps in the direction of finding older boys willing to act as "shepherds" to the new arrivals had already been taken by Major Howell, who had been travelling through the South Island and picking out older boys experienced in farming. He had now an army of 200 who were prepared to take up any new boys settled near them and jgive them advice. It was desirable to have Englishmen who had been through the mill themselves, rather than New Zealanders, for the purpose, for the Englishmen knew better the feeling of the newcomer. The principal object of the gathering was that Mr and Mrs List might secure the boys' impressions of New Zealand and receive any messages to carry tp their people in England. Mr List had been In England when the first batch of boys had been sent out to Zealand, and he had taken a great interest in the scheme. He did not know of any other scheme that had been ao successful as that fathered by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, said Mr Carter- It had been delegated to the Chamber to invite the boys to New Zealand on behalf of the Government, to work on the land. It was very gratifying to know that most of those boys were stil» on the land. Two had been through Lincoln College, and one was staying on at the College as an instructor io agriculture. Some were already farmers on their own account; others were working on the share system, and still others had fitted into positions in the business life of the community.

Government's Act Deprecated.

The demand for boys was still great, bnt they were in an unfortunate position owing to the fact that the Government had suspended immigration, said Mr Carter. It would not affect the labour market 'f 40 or 50 boys were to come out this year. They could be placed immediately. The suspension of the scheme had been a loss to New Zealand.

Mr List, who is about to leave for England to attend an important Press conference, said that if any of the boys wished him to take messages home to their parents he would be very glad to do so. "I maintain," said Mr List, "that the opportunities in New Zealand today are greater than they have ever been before for the tnaii who will make himself efficient and lead a useful life.'' They were all greatly pleased at the wonderful success of the public school boy scheme in New Zealand. He felt sure that the Government had made a great mistake in withdrawing its help. But they had in view a plan in which boys who would pay their own way would be brought out. It was hoped that before the boys were brought out they would be trained under New Zealanders at Home and that groups would be formed in New Zealand to look after i them when they arrived.

Efforts Appreciated.

On behalf of the English public school boys, Mr W. P. Tett said that sis year# ago he had addressed the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and business men of Now Plymouth, and had told them how the boys appraciated their efforts. He had also said that the boys hoped to become enthusiastic New Zealanders. He was glad that those responsible for bringing them out felt that that had befts achieved. With regard to any future immigration scheme for boys, he was sure they would all be very pleased to eo-operate with the members of the committee, to whom they were so much indebted already. Mr White suggested that an association of the boys in Taranaki might be formed to assist and welcome anv newcomers.

Mr Abraham explained that an ashad been formed by the boys in Wellington to help any English public school boy who found himself out or work. That association had been very useful He knew several boys who had been helped by their fellows m that way and who had ultimately made good.

Mr Tett moved that an association be formed of English public school boys In Taranaki to further the interests of the boys in the province. Mr I' oTvJ™ 8 . olootQd president, Mr M. .it. Sutcliffe vice-president, and Mr Tett secretary.