THE SEDGWICK BOYS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12781, 29 July 1911, Page 8

THE SEDGWICK BOYS.

\ (Per Press Association.) ; WELLINGTON, July. 27. . The question of boy immigration and Mt\ Sedgwick's scheme was rdealt with by the Farmers' Conference to-^ay. Remits were read from Wellington, : Otago, Taranaki, Southland andiNorth /.Canterbury. It was decided to. deal with the whole question on Southland's remit: "That in view of the scarcity •of, youthful farm labour, the Conference approves of the introduction ofsuitable youths under careful selection from Great Britain." Mr. T. W. Foster said the boys who bad been sent out from Home with few exceptions had turned o~ut . extremely well. They had made excellent farm servants. Statements had been made that there was no necessity to import farm labour, as there were plenty New Zealand boys for farm work. Labour was scarce in Southland, especially boys, and any boy who wanted farm work could get it easily. Boys were too eager to flock to towns. Mr. Buick (Marton) advocated adding, a clause to the motion asking^ the ■ Government to support Mr. Sedgwick's scheme. • ... Mr. .McQueen (Southland) . said they should leave, themselves open to adopt any other suitable scheme. There were black sheep in every flock, but the majority had turned out well. Mr. Philip (Otago) said the boys Home had turned out better than 'Colonials and there was a less percentage of duffers, and. wasters. . Mr. Foster said he wished to remove the impression among labour organisations that farmers were importing boys for sweating purposes. In Southland, . boys started at 10s. a week and when ■ ! they arrived they had no knowledge of the work and. were of very little use. As they; were able to earn more, their wages were increased correspondingly. Their ages ranged from 17 to 21, and a greater number had-not been 12 months in the Dominion before they were earning the current rate of wages paid to farm labourers throughout the. country. There mis iio sweating, and they wure not inti'dduced because they wero cheap. They were; not tied to the peo-I'le^-^they came to.and could go to any man. If they epuld not get the curteni rate of wa"ges from the people they first went to, they very soton'shifted'on. They were not bound to stop for a Certain time. The resolution :was carried, also ono oxpressing the' thanks of farmers to Mr. Sedgwick iri his. philanthropic ef--fdrts toseciire work for town boys from Great' Britain; and to settle them in the Dominion and hoping tho Government Should-assist further immigration on tho sanio lines.