NOTES ON EMIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 82, 3 October 1925, Page 13

NOTES ON EMIGRATION

HELPING ON THE YOUTH

THE "BIG BROTHER" MOVEMENT

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 28th August. On his return to England, after his world tour, which included Australia and New Zealand, Lieut.Col. J. S. Addinbrooke writes with, interest of his impressions of -the "Big Brother Movement," suggesting that, its operation might.be extended to New Zealand and Canada." . '

Colonel Addiribrooko tells readers of "The Scotsman" that' tho duties of th 4 "Big Brother" are of tho utmost irn-i pprtance, and recent events have shown that his oversight and.help, aro not infrequently needed to protect his "littla brother" from being made to feel that, he is not "wanted" nor welcomed in these great,' ..wealthy,- and important Dominions. Such action is by no means common, but it is'sufficiently'-frequent to call for notice and to hinder the' immigration of suitable little brothers. The "Big Brother" movement is eminently ■suitable to eradicate the feeling which, has only arisen through the careless, and doubtless inadvertent action^of somife colonials, who do not at the momentrealise how easily t&ey may defeat their own excellent plans for recruiting. :the very slowly-increasing population oE workers, when they are most needed, in rural districts, and of providing suitable British boys with'a healthful wid profitable career*

"Something seems to be needed in the way of an occasional visit by a (British 'Big Brother' to the Dominions to encourage tho. brotherly spirit now being not too actively developed, and so . in-. crease tho- friendly relations''between tKe Dominions and the Motherland-by-add-ing to the Reueral efficiency of this great scheme."

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOY\ Sir James Allen describes as "a big asset to the Dominion" the movement begun by Mr. T. C. List (chairman of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce to get public school boys to go out to the Dominion. Mr. list writes through the High Commissioner :—Tha boys went out primarily with, the in^ tention of becoming farmers,'"but "for temperamental and other reasons, a few of the lands found themselves nnsuited to the life, and have been secured positions in the towns. All are making good. The farming boys, also, are making good headway. They have stuck it manfnlly. There has really been no absolute disappointment." The attention of the public is drawn t6wards the extension of the system in ; Taranaki, where provision is made for younger boys, those Tinder the age of 17, to finish their school course at the New Plymouth High. School, which, is resi* dential. "The boys go to New Zealand at the right age, gain the atmosphere of their adopted country at the; school, and are taken out to the farms, where they are given practical demonstrations. During long vacation the boys can, if they like, obtain employment on farms." A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE IN

Mr. F. Trew, late of Birmingham, but now settled- at Waimate, sends to his one-tima local paper some hints that should be useful to prospective settlers. He says New Zealand is a good place to live in, climate and soenory good, and conditions in general excellent. The man with, a good trade at his fingers' end can always command a' good job. Electrical engineers, linesmen, carpenters and joiners, bricklayers, and almost any good mechanic are want-/ ed here, and even the casual labourer can earn good money in the summer time. If ho is single he can provide fo» the winter. Of course nearly all the unemployment is round tho cities and ports. The best plan is to get away from theso places to'tho small towns, as every little town in New Zealand is pnshing_up and trying, to beat the'others, which makes for progress all tha time. The wages are all settled by arbitration and are on a fair basis, aci cording to. cost of living, no'piecework allowed, and more • equality between master and man. '-'But tho wholepolicy of New Zealand is centred-in-the younger generation, and they do everything in their power to help the youngsters.'' PROSPECTS IN NEW ZEALAND

According to the "Birmingham Post,"i "Fruit-farming in New Zealand, with! its beautiful scenery and its healthy climate, has always appeared to be an ideal profession for the woman who feels the pinch of .over-population, and keen com-, petition in England. An article written, by a woman who possesses personal experience, however, should do much to deter any enthusiastic tyro from embarking on this enterprise in haste. One important'point is that domestic service is almost impossible to obtain, so that the fruit farmer must be prepared to do all her own housework, including laundry and cooking. Then wages for agricultural labour are so high that they eat into the profits to an alarming c* tent, evou when good prices aro obtained for a successful crop. Cost of liv» ing is also very heavy. One woman in New Zealand, regarded as a highly-suc-cessful tomato-grower, only made £90 net profit on a good year, "out of which her own personal expenses had to ba. reckoned. farmers, dairymen, and fruit-growers already established are prejudiced against employing women savd as domestic workers, so that there ara no posts available for the wolud-be apprentice. There are, it would be, praci tically no openings for the educated, professional woman. The Dominion is already over-stocked with nurses, teachers, journalists, and doctors. On the othas hand, a good cook can get 3. wide choico of situations al £100 pel- annum and, ' all found.' " 85, Fleet street.