BOYS ON LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 8

BOYS ON LAND

I'AJiM SCHOOL SCHEMES AUSTRALIAN PROPOSALS f "CO-OPERATION OF BRITAIN [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY. Jan. 8 The establishment of farm schools in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland for boy immigrants may result from a revival this year of a restricted form of migration from Great Britain. There. may also bo an extension in Western Australia of the Fairbridge Farm School system, and the inauguration in Queensland of a system of assisted immigration of relatives of British subjects resident there. Costs of assisted migration aro expected to be shared by the Commonwealth, the States, and Britain. All the States have made known to the Commonwealth their attitude on the question, and it appears that only Tasmania and South Australia are opposed to any scheme for a resumption of assisted migration. No written agreement between Britain and Australia is. necessary for the adoption of a scheme, it is stated. When the Overseas Settlement Bill, at present before the House of Commons, has been passed by the British Parliament, the way will be clear. It is understood that the Commonwealth Government has undertaken to subscribe up to 3s a week toward the cost of training each boy immigrant in Queensland, and that Britain will contribute os. In Victoria 300Q acres of the Glenmore Estate, near Bacchus Marsh, is expected to be converted into .a farm school, to be known as the Northcote Farm School, which would be ready for occupation by next July. Within a few years it would have a complement of 225 boys. The Commonwealth would contribute up to £7OOO and Britain up to £14,000 for capital expenditure, and the contributions Ttoward upkeep would be £IOOO and £I7OO respectively. A site for a similar farm school in New South Wales has not yet been selected, but the establishment of such a school in this State would also be contingent upon contributions toward costs being received from the Commonwealth" and Britain.