HOME LADS FOR TARANAKI

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 27 August 1923, Page 2

HOME LADS FOR TARANAKI

AN IMMIGRATION SCHEME For some time past the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has been interesting itself in the matter of the im. migration of suitable young Englishmen to Taranaki, where they can be placed on farms and taught farming work thoroughly, preparatory to their taking up land for themselves (says the ‘ ‘ News ”). The Chamber has been in touch with parents at Home, and the result shows that there is no lack of right material available if arrangements at this end can be perfected. The idea is to select lads of the ago from 18 to 19 on completion of their sccoudaxy education at Home, and to find places for them, first • of all, on Taranaki farms, where they can be properly trained in the work of dairying, say for a period of two years, beginning with pocket money only and being remunerated later according to the -value of their services, the chief aim, however, not being the extent of their remuneration, but the receiving of sound training in the work, so that later on they will be equipped to successfully manage their own places. The Chamber’s migration committee, in association with a farmers' executive, would arrange with the Government for the lads' passages, and to meet them at the port of arrival and in Taranaki, and generally take an interest in their welfare, and subsequently act in an advisory capacity when they and their parents were in a position, to purchase their own properties. Another part of the Chamber's scheme is to bring out the lads from the agricultural districts of Devonshire and Cornwall, who already have had farming experience, to positions previously secured for them in Taranaki. Mr J. E. Cruickshank detailed the steps he had taken in this connection when in those countries recently. Eventually the following committee was set up to co-operate with the Migration Committee of the Chamber; Messrs W. B. Grant, A. E. Washer, ,1. E. Rowlands, W. J. Freeth and W. Ambury. It was mentioned that an advertisement would shortly be inserted in the Press, asking farmers willing to take and train English cadets on the lines above referred to to send in their names to the joint cohimittee, so that arrange-l ments could be made for selecting and bringing out the lads in time for the beginning of next producing season.