TEN THOUSAND BOYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19046, 25 June 1924, Page 11

TEN THOUSAND BOYS

NEW IMMIGRATION PROJECT. LADS AS FARM WORKERS. Human touch is the main idea of a new movement for the encouragement of immigration, which has been projected by Mr Richard Linton, managing director of Middows Bros, and Linton, Ltd., of Melbourne. The scheme is called the "Big Brother Club,” and Mr Linton intends shortly to submit the proposal to a public meeting in Melbourne, and, ultimately, to have it submitted to all States. The recruiting and dispatch of the boy immigrants will be undertaken as at present by the migration and settlement department of Australia House, with the qualification that the Commonwealth authorities will probably have the co-operation of the English-speak-ing union. The immediate object of the movement will be the settlement of 10,000 boys of, say, 14 to 17 years of age, as farm workers, with the object of inducing them ultimately to take up selections of their own. In each State there will be formed a “Big Brother Club.” Each “Big Brother” will hold himself responsible for the reception and care of one boy a year until the boy reaches the age of 21. He will receive and entertain the boy on arrival; he will either take him to his own home or arrange accommodation for him until employment be found for the boy upon a farm, and when the boy has been put to work he will see that he is properly housed, fed and cared for. He will exercise a parental influence by corresponding with the boy, and if possible paying him an occasional visit.

Mr Linton suggests that each boy should be asked to sign an agreement with his “Big Brother” that until he readies the age of 21 he will not take alcoholic liquor, that he will not leave his employment without the consent of the “Big Brother,” and generally tr.et he will avoid bad company the basic idea of the project being to mould trie boy’s character on lines of good citizenship. In order to avoid overlapping and the creation of a new organisation, where one is already available to render the services required, Mr Linton proposes that the “Big Brother” Club

should become part of the New Settlers’ League, which, with its 206 branches in all parts of the Commonwealth, has the ideal machinery for translating the new plan into practice. In order that the boys may be induced to realise their responsibilities to the Commonwealth from the outset, Mr Linton thinks that each “Big Brother” should persuade his protege to save sufficient money from his first earnings to recoup the Commonwealth for the cost of his passage to Australia. After that he should be persuaded to put by a stated portion of his wages with a view to acquiring land of his own whqp he comes of age. rMr Linton proposes to invite such organisations as the Rotary Club, the Millions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Manufacture,, the Commercial Travellers’ Association, the Young Men’s Christian Association, Masonic lodges, and friendly societies to associate themselves with the movement.