3

D.—9

guarantee to find employment for their nominees, and it has resulted in a steady stream of immigrants of the best type. . . The rates for nominated passages are as follows : Second class, £'27 ; third class (two-berth), £12 ; third class (four-berth), £10. ; v Domestic Servants. The number of domestic servants obtainable is far less than the demand, and special efforts are being made to considerably increase the previous numbers. The Government some time ago agreed to advance not only a greater part than formerly, but in some cases the whole, of the passage-money, such increase in advances to be repaid by instalments. Arrangements have been considered with the shipping companies for the provision of special accommodation for this class of immigrant, so that they may be berthed within one compound, ensuring strict privacy for the domestics, and enabling the matrons to have fuller control. The Government has, during the last two years, urged upon the shipping companies the necessity for such provision, but has been unable so far to obtain the companies' consent. Farm Boys, During the year the Government initiated the scheme of immigration of farm boys. The first party of fifty arrived by the s.s. " Ayrshire " at Auckland on the 20th January, 1914, and the second party of fifty arrived at the same place on the Ist March. Both parties have given general satisfaction. Quite 60 per cent, of the boys possess a rudimentary knowledge of farming, whilst the remainder —the younger lads —possess the physique necessary to fit them for learning farmwork in New Zealand. The farmers employing the boys advanced part of the passage-money (£8) to bring them out, the Government paying the difference under its contract with the shipping companies. The £8 advanced by the farmer is being repaid by the boys out of wages earned. At the end of May, 1914, eleven " Ayrshire" boys had repaid their passage-money, one boy was made a present of his passage-money by his employer, and thirty-four boys had to cheir credit sums accumulated of over £4 each. The wages being earned and received by the lads at the end of May were as follows : Two receiving £1 ss. per week, without clothes; three receiving £1 per week, without clothes ; two receiving 18s. per week, without clothes; twelve receiving 15s. per week, without clothes; two receiving 12s. 6d. per week, without clothes; one receiving 15s. per week, with clothes in addition; three receiving 12s. per week, with clothes in addition ; seven receiving 10s. per week, with clothes in addition ; one receiving Bs. 6d. per week, with clothes in addition ; thirteen receiving 7s. 6d. per week, with clothes in addition (one £5 bonus next Christmas) ; one dead ; one too ill to work since arrival; three left for other farms at higher wages : total, fifty-one. Of the farmers whose formal applications to employ farm-boy immigrants are recorded a considerable number have necessarily been disappointed in failing to obtain the services of any boy, and no difficulty is anticipated in placing further parties on their arrival. A copy of the agreement executed by the "Ayrshire" and "Suffolk" boys in London is appended. It will be observed that—(l) 7s. 6d. is fixed as a minimum weekly wage, not as the wage necessarily to be adopted; (2) the wage is in addition to board, lodging, and clothing ; (3) the engagement is to continue in employment for one year only. " Suffolk" Boys. One receiving £1 ss. per week, without clothes; one receiving £1 2s. 6d. per week, without clothes ; two receiving £1 per week, without clothes ; one receiving 18s. per week, without clothes ; two receiving 17s. 6d. per week, without clothes; fifteen receiving 15s. per week, without clothes (one to receive bonus, 6d. per cow per month); one receiving 14s. per week, without clothes; eight receiving 12s. 6d. per week, without clothes; one receiving 12s. per week, without clothes; one receiving 11s. per week, without clothes ; six receiving 10s. per week, without clothes (one made a present of £8 passage-money) ; four receiving 10s. per week, with clothes ; six receiving 7s. 6d. per week, with clothes ; two working for other farmers ; total, 51. Copy of Agreement. Address : To the High Commissioner for New Zealand*.l3 Victoria Street, London, S.W. Neio Zealand Government Schema for sending Farming Youths from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. In consideration of my having been granted a reduced-rate passage to New Zealand at a cost of £8, payment of which has been made by the High Commissioner for New Zealand on behalf of the New Zealand Government under the above scheme, I hereby undertake that, on my arrival in New Zealand, I will enter into an agreement with the Under-Secretary of the Department of Immigration in Wellington, acting for the New Zealand Government, to engage myself to work for a farmer in New Zealand who has been approved by the New Zealand Government, for a period of not less than one full year from the date on which I commence work for the farmer, at a wage of not less than 7s. 6d. per week, with board, lodging, and clothing. I am also willing to agree — That the Government shall place my wages in the Post Office Savings-bank, less a small amount per week to be paid to me for pocket-money, until I have completed my contract, when,