YOUTHS FOR FARMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 10

YOUTHS FOR FARMS.

IMMIGRANT LADS ARRIVE.

AYRSHIRE'S CONTINGENT.

THE WAGES QUESTION.

The 51 British boys brought out by the Immigration Department for farm work in the Dominion arrived by the Ayrshire from Liverpool yesterday morning. After medical inspection of the ship had been made by the port health officer the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. D. Bell) went aboard the vessel, shortly before 8 a.m., and in his capacity as head of the Immigration Department formally welcomed the new arrivals. The latter, who came out under the charge of Sergeant-Major W. H. Cooper, were assembled on deck and briefly addressed by the Minister on their duties and responsibilities in their future career. Mr. Bell also answered several questions put to him by the boys, who brought the little ceremony to a conclusion by giving three cheers for the Minister and for the sergeant-major.

Each boy proceeds immediately to work. Four of them go to Whakatane. one to Te Aroha, one to Otahuhu, one to Buawai, and one to Whangarei, while the remaining 43 left for the South bv the Main Trunk express last night. Seventeen of the lads will be dropped at stations en route, and the remainder will go right through to Wellington. Twenty-two will then go on direct to Lyttelton. while four will wait at Wellington for other connections to the South Island. The boys travelling by the Main Trunk express last, night were "in the charge of Mr. A. M. Adams, an officer of the Immigration Department. Forty-four of the young immigrants came from England (mostly from southern counties), six from Ireland, and one from Scotland. All were stalwart of frame and of sound physique, and gave every promise of being the right stamp of country-bred colonist. Their average weight is 1201b, the heaviest being 1701b and the lightest 1001b. Most of them are experienced in agricultural work, and many in the handling of cattle. The majority are youths of 19 and 213, rather than boys. They showed a fine spirit on the voyage out, several volunteering for work in the stokehold, and all taking their share of the .work entailed in prepar ing their own meals, etc. These services were rendered quite voluntarily, the sergeant-major in charge speaking in high terms of their exemplary conduct throughout the trip. The party went ashore at Durban and Hobart. Sergeant-Major Cooper took charge of the young immigrants at Euston station, London, and embarked with them at Liverpool on November 22. The youths enjoyed the passage out, though, to their way of thinking, it was rather rough. They displayed keen interest in the ship's sports, which extended over about two weeks, and the fact that there are some good athletes in their ranks was proven by them winning the boxing and wrestling events and most of the first prizes. One lad named Joy carried off five first prizes. Only two of the party escaped sea-sickness. but beyond this none developed any ailment, and all arrived in the best of health. One or two of the elder youths expressed rome discontent on learning that their prospective employers were only bound to pay them 7s 6d per week in wages for the first year of their employf:,. V 1 * 7 stat€d that prior to leaving the Old Country 7s 6£ was named as the lowest figure to be paid, but that there ISf-i 1 } ten »" of "or according to ■*X "f? rf *? them - Jt » not anticipated by the majority, however, that there will be any failure on the part of the employing tanners to recognise ability. There are amongst the party one or two youths of 20 with five or six 'years expert ence on farms. i The Minister, when questioned by a Herald representative concerning the com plain M to wages, declined to make a statement on the subject, UNION'S UNDERTAKING. A MINIMUM WAGE. [M TELEORAPH.-PRE.ss ASSOCIATION.] i- Wellington, Tuesday. Workers^ 5 ' - onned Wellington Rural Workers Association decided recentlv when it learned that a number of farm! HiZtZ T™. I **** brouht out in ™ tl T IAT^ -6 ' to "** a representative to Auckland to meet and explain the lab our situation tothem. Mr.; R. McEae went up on this mission, and he reports by telegraph to-night that he saw the immigrants IW*/' "™ *P ]ain « ll6 ' position fully to them The Farm Labourers' Union has undertaken to find positions for the newcomers at a, minimum wage of 25s weekly and if positions cannot be found the union undertakes to keep the immigrants in the meantime If the farmers will not em ploy the boys the union will pay their passages Home. r J