PLACING BOYS ON LAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 246, 16 September 1929, Page 6

PLACING BOYS ON LAND.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 16. Some interesting information was given at the Commercial Travellers’ Association Day celebration bv the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Industries and Commerce, on the subject of placing boys on the land, to which reference had been made earlier in the evening by His Excellency the Governor-General.

Mr Cobbe said that the Government had just completed arrangements by which many of the boys leaving school in cities and towns would have the opportunity of going on to farms if they so desired. The Government was to get a list of suitable farms to which these boys could go and be fairly treated —perhaps not as they had been accustomed to, but under decent conditions. It was hoped to appoint one or two inspectors who would go up and down the country to see that the boys’ conditions were satisfactory, and also that they were doing their duty. (Hear, hear). His Excellency had spoken on immigration, said the Minister, and had said that we w'anted more population. While they had the money and there were thousands of boys leaving school, it was the duty of the Gvernment to to see that their own boys were given an opportunity of going on to the land.

In regard to trade representation in Canada, the Government was making arrangements by which New Zealand would shortly be represented in that country, as the trade with Canada was increasing very rapidly. Arrangements were also being made for New Zealand to be represented in other places. (Applause). In conclusion, he remarked that prospects were brighter, and some of the money which had been in the banks was being circulated.