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Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3573, 12 July 1912, Page 4

Tlie official report on the first rear’s working of the experiment known as the Sedgwick scheme—placing Home lads on farms and stations in New Zealand and the other Colonies—is of considerable interestIt appears that of the fifty boy immigrants to the Dominion 33 are reported to have made good progress; seven are scheduled as “partial failures” and ten come under the designation of “failures.” In other words 43 of the original party are known to be still on the farms under the guardianship of the Labor Department, two have returned Home, and the other five are believed to be at work elsewhere in New Zealand or in Australia. As might only be expected, it is non found as a result of the system being put into operation, that it was not exactly perfect in all regards. On the whole, however, it is felt by the author of the scheme that an exceedingly high degree of success was attained. As a. rule he says 50 per cent, is considered a good average of successes in general emigration work, and in this instance the percentage obtained was one of SO per cent. It seems that among the most important lessons of .the experiment is the fact that it is advisable to bring out in future parties only 10 per cCnt. of boys' over the age of eighteen years, and these should .be placed on sheep .stations. Younger boys, it further appears, settle better on dairy and mixed farms, but exceptions it is felt might in numerous, cases be safely made. The view is also put forth that the Apprenticeship Act should make it an indictable offence either for other employers to seduce or knowingly employ an absconding apprentice or for apprentices to abscoud. In regard to the employers Mr Sedgwick goes on to remark that some were too kind at first- to the lads. All those boys who had been under discipline in the Territorials, as post office messengers, or, in Scouts and other Brigades, and those who had been in shops and offices liavo done well. Boys who stoop or slouch are, it is also truly said, unlikely to prove successful on Colonial farms. Another suggestion that is put forth is that the policy of nominated passages required to he made definite. To avoid the necessity of apprenticeship for older lads training farms conducted on Colonial lines, it is suggested, are a pressing need at Home. “Al-

Homo Lads on Colonial farms.

tliouch the results of the expeu though tm- , - k ' ar6 bailment,” adds Mr feedgwicK ly satisfactory, they should be far * passed in the future. Had the pre sent information been selecting and placing the first especially as regards age. the question of ‘mates’ not bell,g the together on the same farm, and the most suitable types, there v°u bably have been only two> parti* 1 fa ures, and it is possible that the list of failures would have been abolished. It should, therefore, be easy to b rantee 95 per cent- or more of successes in future parties to - e " land and Australia.” conn * c 1 with the scheme there can be not the slightest doubt, we think, that a gieat many more youths could find on the farms and stations in J -s minion. As matters at present stand, hundreds of New Zealand boys show a sad lack of appreciation of the happy and prosperous conditions cvlilC.i 00U11trv life affords. The position then is that if such a state of affairs should continue the only alternative must be for additional suitable lads to ie encouraged to come out from the Old Land.