IMMIGRANT FARM BOYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19287, 27 March 1926, Page 12

IMMIGRANT FARM BOYS.

AN EYE TO THEIR WELFARE. WOMEN UNDERTAKE DUTY. FARMERS* UNION MOVEMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN ... CORRESPONDENT. J MASTERTON, Friday. An insight into a very extensive social work recently undertaken by tho women's division of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was given by Mr. G. C, Jackson, provincial president, at today's meeting of tho Masterton branch of tho union. The meeting was discussing the employment of immigrant farm labourers, especially tho boys brought out under tho various schemes at present in operation, and the opinion was expressed by Mr. I H. Evans that many farmers would need to treat the boys bettor than they had been doing if they wanted to make good settlers of them. He cited one or two cases, and added that if farmers wanted to get -the best out of the boys they would have to treat them well. It was entirely unfair, ho said, the way some of the boys had been treated.

Tlio president stated that something was now being done to keep, an eye on tho welfare of the boys when they were billeted out on farms. Tho women's division had taken the matter up, the boys who had passed through Flock House being the first to receive their attention. Tho name and a,ddress of every boy who had passed through tho house had been gathered, and the wives of members of the union had been asked to make inquiries in the various districts where these boys were 'working, and do anything they c6uld to help them along by finding suitable friends and- occasional > amusements for them. As the movement grew tho women's division would extend its activities to provide for every, boy and girl who camo out from England.