YOUTHS FOR FARMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18662, 19 March 1924, Page 11

YOUTHS FOR FARMS.

ENGLISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. iPARTY OF EIGHT ARRIVES. EXCELLENT TYPE OF LAD. The first of the boys from the great public schools of England who are being; brought out by the New Zealand Government for the purpose of receiving tfistruction in farming, preparatory to taking up land in the Dominion, arrived, by the lonic from Southampton last eyveriing. This advance party consists of eight young men, ranging in age from '17 to 20, and as may be expected, are of an excellent type. The prefect of the, party, Mr. J. L. Mountford, is from Oundle, and his colleagues come from the following schools:—Messrs. G. W. Drewitt and R. L. Ridgway (Cranley), T. G. Tyrer (Dulwich), H. E. Merrick (Strand), P. Gill (H.M.S. Conway), R. Rape (Christ's Hospital), and T. V. Tatham (Bradford).

The party was met last evening by Mr. H. D. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Immigration, who came to Auckland expressly flor the purpose, and explained 'to the boys the Government's intentions with regard to their future. He mentioned that they would be placed on farms , under capable, and successful farmers to gain experience in mixed farming, and it was hoped they would later , take up land and become permanent, settlers of the Dominion. He explained that three of them would be platted in the Otorohanga district, . four in t£he Dannevirke district, and the eighth wo old go to Tolaga Bay. These new settlers na-e not being bi/ought out under the indenture system 34 was at first anticipated. They have Veen nominated by the New Zealand s?armers' Union, which will be responsible for their welfare in the immediate future, but they are Ithe wards of the Under-Secretary for Immigration. The lonic will berth at, the Qu Mil's Wharf this morning, when the boys will be welcomed by the Headmasters' A sue - ciation of New Zealand, and the collegiate old boys of the. city. They will be entertained during the day, being shown the sights of the city and surroundings, and in the evening will be the guests at an informal dinner at which they will be given an opportunity of becoming acquainted with New Zealand collegiate boys. The new arrivals will leave for the South to-morrow evening, and on arrival at their respective centres will be met by the secretary of the local branch of the Farmers' Union.

When seen on the lonic last, evening the newcomers expressed their pleasure at the prospect before them, and while the majority stated a preference for sheep-farming as their ultimate goal, the others were equally keen on embarking as dairy fanners when their term of instruction ends. ■

Altogether the Government has received 240 applications from English public schoolboys desirous of coming to the Dominion. A second hatch will leave London by the Arawa to morrow for Wellington.