THE SEDGWICK BOYS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7355, 6 February 1911, Page 7

THE SEDGWICK BOYS

SPECIAL TO THE ‘‘TIMES.'

CmiLSTCUUECK, February 5. Recent references to the claso of boys brought to tho Dominion under the auspices of Mr Sedgwick wore brought under the notice of tho Hon. J* A. Millar, Minister of Labour, yesterday. Ho said that as tar ii 6 he knew there was no foundation in fact for the allegation that tho boys were of an undesirable class. He the boys on their arrival, and was struck by their fine physique- “There is not cue or tho-u hoys,” Mr Millar said, who was picked off the streets. There is a complete record regarding each boy. giving particulars of tho class of work he was engaged at prior to coming to the Domin':©u and the wages ho earned, together with information as to the environment in which ho lived —practically a brief history of each boy’s career, iho boys have been selected from various ■callings and from different environments, but no slum lads • have been brought out; that is. taking, the term ‘slum lads' to mean boys with a criminal taint. They' were engaged in employments at Home which held out no hop© for their future, and they were only too glad of the opportunity to come to a country where there wore prospects before them.” Mr Millar added that personally he did not think any more lads should bo brought out until the experiment has had twelve months' trial. Tho Labour Department would get a report on each boy. which would make it possible to study exactly how each individual had taken advantage of the opportunities given him.