IMMIGRANT FARM LADS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 November 1925, Page 5

IMMIGRANT FARM LADS.

GISBORNE COMPLAINTS. NOT GENERAL IN DOMINION. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. Three hundred English public school hoys have been brought by the Immigration Department to New Zealand and placed on farms. The great majority, stated the head of the department to your correspondent, were doing well. The Gisborne complaints from farmer employers were brought under the notice of the Under-Secretary, who declared that the Gisborne opinions were not generally held. The boys, it was explained, were not tied under indentures, but they were advised to remain at last 12 months in their first situation. A minimum payment of 10s weekly was specified for the first three months, and then the hoy was paid what lie was worth in the general market. Difficulties have naturally arisen over increased payments, but in most cases the boys have been well satisfied, some getting £1 per week and others considerably more. The department, it was explained, was very anxious not to create the suggestion that it was importing cheap labour. A fair number of the boys would ultimately have possession of sufficient capital to take up land, and those who had not such a prospect were advised to go in for dairying and arrange sharemilking parties, when they could get sufficient experience. Of the first batch of boys who came to New Zealand in January, 1924, the Under-Secretary of the department stated that they had been absolutely successful. Many were now getting 25s per week and keep, and one was taking on the management of a farm. Six public school boys are due at Wellington on the lonic to-day and 13 on the Remuera at Auckland on November 28.

“The complaints from Gisborne,” concluded the immigration officer, “are not typical of the farmers’ attitude throughout the Dominion.”