BOYS FOR FARMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 18

BOYS FOR FARMS.

THE SEDGWICK SCHEME. The secretary of the Dominion headquarters of the New Zealand Fanners' Union has circularised the branches as follows: "The Advisory Committee of the NewZealand Farmers' Union has been watching with close attention the result of the movement recently initiated of placing boys from English cities on farms in New Zealand, under the care of the Department of Labour. The results so far have been so satisfactory both to the employers and to the lac'.G themselves that the committee thinks it desirable to approach the Government to ask that steps be taken to bring out, by September next if possible, as many more lads as may be required by such farmers as are prepared to agree to similar conditions to those imposed in connection with the first party brought out. Particulars of the conditions are attached hereto. In order that this may be clone at the earliest moment, I am sending you a number of application forms, on which you will notice that applicants are requested to bo prepared to deposit the cost of the fare (probably £lO or £l2) with the Labour Department when required., so as to avoid a repetition of the delay which was occasioned by the collection of the necessary funds in the Old Country. The previous experiment has shown that town lade adapt themselves speedily to our conditions, and arc ready learners: some being able to milk from 8 to 16 cows daily in the course of a few weeks. The first party was brought out on the distinct understanding that they might bo required to do housework as well as farm work, for which their training has well prepared them. The committee desires that you will distribute these application forms and accompanying literature, which fully explains the scheme, among the members of your branch and other farmers in your neighbourhood, with a view to obtaining definite information as to the urgent need for such labour throughout tho Dominion. As soon as the particulars are available, it is proposed to place them before the Government, and ask its cooperation and assistance, as that would ensure a better type of lad being sent out by parents who are/ willing to trust their boys to the care of the Government but who might hesitate to confide them to the care of an association or to private individuals who are strangers to them. The committee feels convinced that when the suitability of the lads for the work and tho great demand for more lads has been proved to tho Minister he will abandon

the question of allowing a period of 12 months' probation to elapse before sanctioning another lot. and will in all probability arrange for their arrival by September or October. Application should reach me, if possible, before the end of May." The terms of agreement under which the first party of lads came out from England are thus recapitulated:—(l) The Labour Department obtained 50 suitable situations with farmers for the boys; (2) The Secretary for Labour was constituted guardian to the lads, by the parents, and requested that they should be apprenticed to a farmer; (3) Tho lads had the conditions of lifo and work on New Zealand farms thoroughly explained to them, and knew that they would, have to do house and farm work as required; the loneliness, distance from friends, and necessity for Sunday work were all pointed cut to them; each had his past experience fully inquired into, and had to produce two certificates as to character, and to -undergo a medical examination; (4) arrangements were made for proper supervision on tho voyage, and when they arrived they were drafted in batches, after each boy had had •Vi opportunity of saying what form of farm or station life he would prefer; (5) the agroement is for three years, or until the lad is 21 years of age; the employer has to board, lodge, instruct, and clothe tho hid; the wages were agreed on a graduated scale; the clothing will be found to cost about 4s per week; Is per week is paid to tho boy, and the rest is banked by the employer for him ; the wages book —kept by the boy—and the bank book, are agreed by the Labour Department's inspector, on his periodical visits; all complainti from either party are promptly inquired into by the department; (6) the advantage l * of apprenticeship include the certainty of the labour being available for a definite period on the farm, whore the lads are trained, and due instruction, encouragement of thrift, and proper safeguards for the boys.

(Feom Oub' Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, May 25. Mr T. Sedgwick, the father of the boy farm-labour scheme, is at present on a visit to Auckland. Chatting with a Star representative this morning Mr Sedgwick dealt interestingly with the subject which he has so much at heart. It is now four months since the first. shipment of 50 boys arrived in New Zealand, and he has since been in close touch with the new arrivals. Forty-nine have settled down in real earnest. The fiftytieth " bolted. *" "I find that the proviso for apprenticeship is a wise precaution," said Mr Sedgwick, " the employers then take a greater personal interest in the boys and their general welfare is assured." Mr Sedgwick has letters showing that the young colonists are all delighted with their new work and environment, and in these letters general satisfaction is expressed with the home life on the farm, the excellence of the food, and the nature of the work involved. A feature of the letters is the fact that many of the boys are keen on learning to ride, preparatory to joining the Territorials. The employers also speak very highly indeed of the boys as keen, anxious to v learn, and willing workers.