BOYS AND FARMING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 30 January 1914, Page 5

BOYS AND FARMING.

ANOTHER SEDGWICK SCHEME. BT TELEGEAFH—PEESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. "While in Otago this week, Mr T. E. Sedgwick, who was the author of the Sedgwick scheme of boy immigration, completed arrangements under which parties of selected English lads will receive an adequate training in all farming occupations on 7 the estate of Mr Sargood, situated near Lake Wanaka. Mr Sedgwick returned to > Wellington from the south to-day, and is to leave New Zealand to-morrow on his way to England to arrange for the migration of the first party of boys. The scheme gives promise of becoming a very big one, as it is understood that Mr Sargood is prepared to accommodate a constant succession of lads on his property. Recently he visited England, and was so impressed with the wretchedness of the living conditions of the poor in the large cities that he determined to help some, at least, of the boys to make a start in a new land. He is even advancing to hoys the amount of their passage money to the Dunedin. Mr Sedgwick has been authorised to select suitable hoys from the large cities of Great Britain and send them direct to New, Zealand. At first only a few will be despatched, but later on the- number will he considerably increased. Hours of labor,will be from 45 to 50 per week, and their minimum wage to begin with will be 7s 6d weekly. Everything will be found for them in the way of housing, clothes, etc; / Th§ scheme will also include a proper system for banking the boys' wages. An important feature of the scheme is that the lads will be free agents all the time. There is to be no question of apprenticeship, and they need only remain on the estate just as long as they feel disposed to do so. A year's training is expected to fit the lads to take up regular employment elsewhere. It is intended to select the most efficient workers "to remain on the farm, and assist in the training of succeeding drafts .