BOYS FOR THE LAND. FROM LONDON TO WAIKATO.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1911, Page 3

BOYS FOR THE LAND. FROM LONDON TO WAIKATO.

A PROMISING CONTINGENT BY THE ATHENIC. . Probably the most interesting, as well as the most interested, passengers by the Athenic yesterday, were the contingent of lads recruited, from London and Liverpool, and brought out by Mr Sedgwick, to be apprenticed to farmers in the Domini6n. The boys were selected from the working classes of the two great cities. They are being drafted away to-day to the places allocated them. Two boys failed to catch the boat when she left Hobart, according to Mr bedgwick. The visitors arrived in excellent health and good spirts, after a quiet passage. When preparations were made for a few ministerial words of advice (given below), it was "Liverpool this way," and "London over there." All but a very few are fine specimens of budding manhood. A bunch of the Londoners are big fellows, who would average about 1401bs or more. Liverpool hardly talks so large, but these boys are, nevertheless, upstanding youths, who, in the right hands, should develop into fine specimens of manhood. Naturally there was a! feeling of excitement, an effervescing as the boat approached the wharf, but there has been no serious trouble with the boyish immigrants whom London and Liverpool have given to the Canterbury plains, the rich valley of the Waikato, and the pregnant lands on the Main Trunk. LADS FROM LIVERPOOL. Lined up on deck, the boys presented notable contrast. Here, among the Liverpool lot, were three or four cleanskinned, well dressed clerkly-looking youths of superior address and gentle manners. ThWy were quite willing to talk of the past and of the future, so far as they could see. One had wielded a pen in a shipping office in the great North Western port, and, seeing nothing hopeful beyond his 10s per week, decided to discard the pen for the plough if he could. He has few misgivings, outside the timid apprehensions of youth |in a strange land under strange coni ditions, for the future. "Hard work?" he queries. "I don't mind that." Another self-reliant small boy of seventeen wears leggings, and "I know fanning all right; I worked on a farm in Cheshire." He has- three years (at least) to learn how wo do it in the Dominion. Several of the thickwiisted, browner-faced youngsters were ship sealers — hardy little- workmen, who crawl through the- man-holes in ship's boilers and scrape, scrape. - THE SELF-RELIANT LONDONER. The Londoner is quite another distinct type. He is- more aggressively self-reliant, less amenable, one would judge, than his northern brother. Poplar has sent several, and these, with some others, are not overpowered with modesty. They are (as the Liverpudians) straight-backed, limber youngsters, moving determinedly, and airing opinions dogmatically. One of the big fellows will be twenty, years old come May, and, his two hands stuck between the vest and tops of the trousers, it is : "Look here. Look here, you fellows. This is the fing," with him. He strolled about masterfully, was very inquisitive as to the terms of apprenticeship, because he is, on his own word, an experienced pipe layer, and drain and sewer worker. He earned his thirty bob any week at his trade, and swung I a 141b hammer — "breaking my own j 'top* you see." A friend explained that "top" was the asphalt. A pal of bis, a I biggish chap, too, possesses a clever pair lof hands and light feet. He is looked j upon with awe and admiration by his fellows, and talks ringwork with some assurance. He, too, substitutes "I" j for "th" at times, and carries his hands : over his abdomen in an ea&y attitude. | LETTERS FROM HOME. I London and 'Liverpool fraternised I spiritedly on the way out. The latter, as indicated, is, on the whole, lessi obtrusive than the southerner, who takes i little for granted. ' With the prospect of separation before them, there were deputations to the Labour Department representatives that "me and Jim" might be placed together on one farm. Letters from Home awaited several, and their • less' fortunate companions crowded round to catch a fragment of news. One heavy-shouldered youth, plain, but with a fine face, had a small pang when he opened a missive and found enclosed a spray of ivy come out of dear Sussex, where a sister was m service. With a truly sisterly wisdom, she had enclosed one' penny and two halfpenny stamps! That little woman away in Sussex should not be forgotten when the big mail boats turns Homewards. MINISTERIAL WELCOME. To return to business. The Minister for Immigration (the Hon. G. Fowlds) and Mr. E. Treeear (Secretary for Labour) went out to the liner to welcome the lads officially. Dr. Pollen took the names of three of the lads for fnrther observation. The Minister for Immigration, in welcoming the boys to New Zealand, told them that they were to be given an opportunity of making a good future for themselves. "We want you to live honourably in the sight of all men," Mr. Fowlds continued, "and I want you to remember that not only is your own reputation at stake, but upon your conduct will depend the possibilities of others coining after you. You will have opportunity in New Zealand of making an existence such as you could not possibly do in the Old Country. We give you a hearty welcome, and we nope great things from your future conduct." The lads responded with a vigorous " Thank you, sir." Mr. Tregear also addressed the contingent. He warned them ihat New Zealand was not paved with gold. No gold was goo here without hard work. The Labour Department would be a kind of adopted father to them, aaid would assist with help and advice whenever possible. The speaker concluded with the hope that the laAs would be a credit to the man who helped to bring them out. I The small review concluded with cheers for the Minister, the Labour Department, and New Zealand. ARRANGING FOR ALLOTMENT. Had the Athenie arrived at the hour expected, it was proposed that the lads should be addressed by the Minister for Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar) in the offices |of the Labour Department at 7 p.m. [ The Minister, however, was unable to I be present, having to attend the banqflet to the returning Minister for Education (Hon. G. Fowlds). As soon as the Athenic was berthed Mr. Sedgwick j took his party up to the Taranaki-street Mission HalT, where the boys were hospitably entertained. During the evening Mr. Sedgwick escorted detachments ! of boys to the offices of the Labour Department, where arrangements were completed for the despatch of the boys to their various destinations to-day. The conditions of apprenticeship were explained and agreements signed. Twentyeight boys have been allotted to the North Island, and will proceed to their future homes to-day. The allotment of the South Island contingent will be decided to-jdajr.