BOYS FOR THE LAND

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2304, 5 September 1929, Page 3

BOYS FOR THE LAND

THAI.XING SCHEAIE NEW ZEALAND LADS IMPORTANT PROJECT An important' decision was reached by Cabinet at its meeting yesterday with reference to tho training ol New Zeh:!and boys in farm work. Afer the meeting Premier Ward (stated that during the (past two or three years there was considerable difficulty iin obtaining suitable loieeupa Lions for New Zea.laind boys on. Waving -school. This was regarded as a scrictUii situation in so young J a country . In order to alleviate the conditions existing the Goveitnmont had decided to inaugurate a scheme for New Zealand boys to be Wained as farmers. The scheme would bounder the direction of the Undersecretary of Immigration, and it . would be on somewhat (similar lines to that which had been in operation during past four year for public and secondary school boys from the United Kingdom. In order to make a (success of the scheme it must be understood that applicants were only to be those whose inclinations •'were to follow farming puimiits and whose parents were (prepared to assist where possible. Of course, an. ca ential would be the co-oparatioh of the farming community. “I feel sure that in this direction -there will be a feady response,” said, Sir Joseph. Tlie principal conditions controlling thy scheme were:— (1) Boys who are accepted must not as a general rule be under 1-3 years of age. (2) They will be guaranteed a minimum commencing wage of 10s per week for the first three months, and 15s per week for the second three months together with hoard I and lodging. The rate of increase in, wages-after that period will depend entirely the buy himself. (3) The ladi: will not he iudeiittired unless by mutual agreement between the farmer and the .par-ants for tlie period of six months’ employment. . ‘‘lt .will bo possible for tlie suo cj sful trainees- under this seTieme on completion -of the training period to take advantage of the provisions of the proposed land settlement legislation, and the amendments of the land laws to be brought down this (session,” added Sir Joseph. The Immigration Department- or the Lai bur Department will be prepared to receive applications from loth farmers and boys.