DESIRABLE MIGRANTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 3

DESIRABLE MIGRANTS

ENGLISH SCHOOLBOYS. TARANAKI CHAMBER’S SCHEME > REVIEW TO DATE, The great amount of interest that is being taken in the immigration to Taranaki of English pbblic schoolboys under the auspices of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was mentioned in the report of the immigration committee presented to the annual meeting of that chamber on Thursday night, when a brief review of the operations of the scheme to dato was also given. The report stated: “'For some time past the chamber has had under consideration the development of an ixu migration scheme bearing more particularly in its application to boys who have completed their education in the home land and who are looking for an opportunity of establishing themselves in the Dominion with a view to learning farming. Prior to Mr. J. R. Cruickshanks visit to England last year the chamber re quested his interest and advice on this matter. Mr. Cruickshank devoted a good deal of time and thought in evolving a scheme of immigration on the “group” system, which would enable Taranaki to draw from West of England agricul tural districts, through an established organisation, such as the Devon and Cornwall Migration Committce, mixed groups consisting of young married people, single men and boys in such proportion and in such numbers as the province was able to absorb from time to time, and to this end Mr. Cruickshank enlisted the sympathy of the Mayor of Plymouth, the chairman of tiie migration committee,, and others. Upon Mr. Cruickshank’s’ return, however, this chamber had already gone some way towards bringing out public schoolboys, and in view of this Mr. Cruickshank preferred •to withdraw his proposals. n

The report went on to refer to the development of the scheme and the expected arrival of the boys in New Plymouth this evening as already reported, and, continuing, stated: “The committee feels a great responsibility rests upon them and the chamber to see that these boys are properly cared for and that frequent reports as to their progress or otherwise will be necessary in orde? that justice will be done to farmers and boys alike. The Immigration Department is showing a very great interest in the arrival of the boys and they have responded splendidly to any inquiries front the committees and have shown a willingness to cooperate in making their coming to the Dominion a. prominent success. “Your committee think that the boys who have been nominated and who will be arriving in this district within the next two months, should have ample time given them to prove their suitability before further nominations go forward,” the report said in closing. “The chamber is to be congratulated in launching a scheme which is so full of possibilities for the good of all concerned, and we are assured the same will be watched by farmers and bythelmmi gration Department and by all who are interested in the immigration scheme. ”