DRIFT TO THE CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18965, 12 March 1925, Page 12

DRIFT TO THE CITY.

SURPLUS OF LABOUR. TOO MANY EMPLOYEES. THE NEGLECT OF FARM WORK. "The conditions arising in the cities arc not. satisfactory," declared Sir James Guns'on, in giving evidence to the commission of inquiry into tho question of establishing a .school or schools of agriculture to meet the Dominion's requirements, in respect of higher agricultural science. "All costs in operating businesses are steadily mounting," continued Uio Mayor of Auckland. "Most concerns have onethird more employees than they actually need, providing (hat there was more industry and applied work similar to that of our fathers. The remedy is for this relative surplus city strength during the next generation to get on to the land, and the remaining relative two-thirds would then have to carry ou in the centres. There is no doubt the centres are overstocked. Ton rnany are looking for a job in an already full market. This would have a doubly advantageous effect. It would reduce tho cost of living in the cities and increase, together with the natural growth, the produce of the land, which is our main source of wealth. Therefore, on behalf of our city population, 1 urge the provision, by a bold policy of modern and extensive falicitios, for the training of our t>oys and girls in agriculture, with a view to it becoming their, intelligent life work and industry."