BOY MIGRANTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 20, 25 January 1911, Page 7

BOY MIGRANTS.

.LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S WARDS. NOTES FOR GUIDANCE. The Department of Labour is evidently determined to do everything possible to make good colonists of t&e fifty English lads arriving by the Athenic today in charge of Mr. T. E. Sedgewick. For the guidance of its wards the department ¦will present to each boy a neat little book containing some pithy introductory notes of good counsel io the newest of our "new chums." The booklet is of the size of a Savings Bank book, and with the exception of three pages of introduction,, is ruled for accounts throughout. Here the young settler will gain first the lessons in thrift by keeping a full record of what he earns and what he spends. Among the notes for guidance is" ihis : "A strict account is to be kept of the receipt of your earnings in the attached money eoltuno.%. provided for the purpose. This account must be produced and shown to any visiting officer appointed by the department. The proc-ket-money provided for you weekly should be banked, if not wanted for 3'onr personal use. You can open an account in auy Post Office Savings Bank." Succinct and clear is the advice and instruction given in these introductory uots3. "It should b& borne in mind." begins the preface, "that the relationship between the department and yourself ''s relatively that of parent and son. The department relies on you giving faithful and willing service to your employers who should be shown respect and obedience. la no case v/ill you be allowed to leave your employment without the. consent of ihs department being first obtained. In the event of your employer being unable for any sufficient reason to continue your employment, the department will arrange for work at another suitable farm. Very' prompt measures will be taken by the department should it be reported that your conduct is unsatisfactory. Every allowance will be made for your being comparatively young in years and your coming among strange people and into new surroundings. The department does not expect you to be entirely without fault, but it does expect you to be clean and tidy in your habits, strictly honest in all your dealings, and industrious and pains- j taking in your work. Yon should re- j member that the department is always ready and willing to help you by afford- t ing advice and assistance. Any rea- j sonable request will bo at one? granted." ! It as understood that the nature of such requests may be, for example, money for the purchase of a sheep-dog, a saddle, a horse, or anything needed j for the betterment of the young settler's I work on the farm. j Mention is then made of tne financial relations between the department and its wards. After the debt is paid in connection with transit and other expenses, the amount earned by the boys will be kept in trust by tho department. In case of misconduct the department may retain the whole of the earnings until the young colonist attains his majority. If. however, his record has been a good one, and the young man can show that the money will be used in such a manner as to help him usefully to make his way in life, it will be paid over in full with interest. Letter-cards are enclosed with the book for monthly communication with the department. Each boy will be provided with a copy of the agreement befrrn^n.- tig.- department