BOY IMMIGRANTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 5

BOY IMMIGRANTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your report of the Farmers’ Union nieetingof Wednesday last, appearing in the “Lyttelton Times” of the following day, barely does me justice. _ Allow me to correct a verbal error in the wording of my resolution quoted in that report:—“Before their arrival in this dominion ” should read Upon their arrival in this dominion.” Then it is stated I “ wa's not present to move my motion.” : That is correct, but no mention is made of the fact that I wrote the Union’s secretary saying I hoped I would be present to move the resolution, and, if not, I would ask for some one present to do so on my behalf. Whether this was an omission on the part of your reporter, or whether it was not made known at the time, I do not know. However, nobody seemed to have had the good feeling towards the lads to move the motion, or was it they were coerced by Mr Sheafs arbitrary attitude and action:' He ' 6eems to have acted the part of the proverbial “ wet sheet ” to dampen any enthusiasm that might be displayed on behalf of the lads. Anyway, his attitude and action do not do away with the truth of the statements made to the secretary of the Union in my letter referred to above, namely, that to pass my resolution would be only “fair” to the lads themselves, “honourable” on the part of those who svpported it, and “honest” oa the i

part of the New Zealand Government to grant it. .dk.to.Mr JElorrell’s motion,, “that this executive believes every effort is, made to placo before intending immigrants the true state of affairs pertaining to farm life in New- Zealand.” it seems to me to show remarkable ig rance of the methods used to lure people from their homes in the Old Country, to come to a land like New Zealand where “farm work” is intermittent. Wages are somewhat high, but are lost for the most part in the high cast of living; and want of work is not unknown to .many. even at Hie present time. His (Mr Horrell’sf motion seems to me to be a sort of subterfuge to side track the issue raised in my resolution. , If so, I would say in conclusion to Messrs Slieat and Horreli and their confederates, the system that will not bear discussion is doomed.—l am. etc.. WILLIAM MOISEY.