“SEDGWICK BOYS.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7355, 6 February 1911, Page 3

“SEDGWICK BOYS.”

fAti opf'ii letter to the Sedgwick Boys „ now: in New Zealand from the promoter of Iho scheme of immigration which brought them hither.] Dear Comrades, — Wo have now been here in New Zealand' for a week, and I hope that you and tho other lads are all now well settled in your new homes and are very happy there. Homesickness must at times como over everyone, even those who have on earth no real homes with a mother or a wife -waiting for us, but if you work well I am confident your employers, or their neighbours, will be willing to engage your sisters, brothers and mates, and will assist you in getting them out. I also will do all I can to help their coming out, and to get’ your friends considered before all other applicants—provided your own report is good. I have some such names already and am ready for others. Since I left New Zealand in May last the scheme has been nearly wrecked twice, but its troubles have only increased its vitality, as our labour difficulties and unemployment at Home strengthened us, provided we do not allow'ourselves to go under. Not only is the Government of Tasmania considering the question of adopting a similar policy of immigration ror lads, but I have already received an invitation to visit Queensland on my way Home to discuss the matter there also. I am standing fast by the rule not to do any work in Imperial immigration which does not meet with the lull approval of the Government of the colony in question, and I know that our friends at Home will only assist in the transference of lade and lasses to those countries whore the Government departments are willing to safeguard their interests, as the Labour Department of the Now Zealand Government ' are doing for you lads. Originally places were obtained for the fifty in the counties of Wellington and Auckland, but owing to the delay in getting the money many of the original offers of employment fell, through, and the Labour Department obtained other situations throughout the Dominion. The cost of distribution was considerable, but for you of the first party I have undertaken on behalf of thoso who subscribed the money to pay the wholo of the extra expense (it will amount to between .£6O to .£100), in order to make it the same for all, and ■to keep your indebtedness down to the ten pounds for your fare. Mixed farms undoubtedly offer the best general training, after which the lads can specialise in dairying, cattle, fruit, or other branches of agriculture if they wish, but no one can regard himself as a real farmer in the future unless he has a good working knowledge of all farm work, just as a doctor can-

not bo a specialist unless no nas, oeen through a preliminary training in all branches of medicine and surgery. The manner in which the Labour Department has backed up the experiment is an object lesson to the world. Don t forget to write to the Secretary of Lar hour on the 10th of every month, and when you can spare the time write also and tell me all about your life and work and what you think of. New Zealand farms. MR TKEGEAR'S SWAN SONG. - It is said that the only time a swan sings sweetly is just before its own death. Now for twenty years Mr Tregear has been devoting his life tor the benefit of labour, as secretary to that department, and has just retired.This experiment has,, therefore, been the last important movement of the many he has conducted, and thus may he regarded as his--official swan-song.-Its notes should- reverberate through the Empire and the echoes , should be thrown hack in years to come by countless settlers and -town lads training therefor, who hut for the Government’s and Mr Tregear’s assistance would have perforce been left to deteriorate on the overcrowded labour markets at Home. Long may his life be spared to enjoy the sight of the happiness he has brought into so many of our lives. ■ Although we are separated, 1 do hope that you will each and all remember the points discussed the other night; The ' path of success lies between the guide-posts of thoroughness, willingness, gratitude, truth, purity, hard work, politeness, kindness to littlo ones, honour to all women. Above all pray for each other, for those at Home and for each one’s self. You will remember that the only complaints ;we had on board the Athenic were for talking and noise at night in the early part of the voyage, but a party of the objectors stopped me in the street tho other day and stated they regretted having objected, since they would have done tho same themselves at your age.

• Special thanksgivings were ofierod to God on our behalf in church ou Sunday, for the marvellous way that Ho has guided the scheme thus far through many difficulties and kept us safe on the voyage. We had been misrepresented at times as coming out- to cut down wages or even to work for nothing. Now the people of the Dominion know that -wages are more important to lads from Home than to New Zealanders, because the former are anxious to get relatives and friends out from Home to share in the incomparably better conditions here which they now enjoy. .

Misapprehensions have arisen in people’s minds as to what effect our coming out will have'on labour conditions. The reply is simple. Everyone, settled on the land makes work for the towns: He increases the consumption of foodstuffs and other manufactures, augments both the import and export business of the ports, enables the country to be further opened up and developed and reduces the amount of the national debt per head of population, and is a unit of defence in case of the country being attacked. The slacker who is apprehensive lest a working lad should be pre-

forred before him .is unworthy of consideration. It is not yet definitely fixed when the next lot of lads shall come out. Some would like to see them in September, , tins year, others wish to wait and see how you lads settle down to work on the land. The whole of the responsibly lity of tho future of town lads on colonial farms rests with you, and the whole of the % success will likewise be yours. 1 do not mention failure, for I know you lads and trust you. Moreover, the people and papers of New Zealand have during the last few months given you the only thing I had left—my own name. The term "Sedgwick Boys" was not of my making, but the word, so far as I know, has never been, and must never - be, associated with failure. It comes from two Anglo-Saxon words Saeg Vick, meaning Village of Victory. It is a little place in Yorkshire with few inhabitants .and a gunpowder factory. We are but a little party, but wo have got to explode both the idea that town lads can't work on farms and the disinclination of Home authorities to assist in the emigration of lads. We will win through from tho Village of Victory. Thank your employers, on behalf of town lads generally, for co-operating with the (Government in this experiment. Tell them I hope to call round and thank them all personally before I leave, and that I hope I may look forward to receiving reports about you all, which I can send Home, ‘just as we did on the voyage out. May you keep to the right and go through with it, and may God bless you all is the prayer of your sincere friend and brother.

THOS. E. SEDGWICK. "Thornleigh," Boulcott street, Wellington, February 4th, 1911.