704 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Nov., 1909- 



LEO.NGATHA LABOUR COLONY. 



Trustees' Annual Report and Balance Sheet, 1908-9. 



Trustees.— E. J. Nevell {Chair man), T. Cl/errv, M.D., M.S., P. J. 

 Carroll, J. H. Mullaly, and J. R. Pescott. 



During the year ended 30th JunC; 1909, 482 men have made appli- 

 cation to be sent to the Labour 'Colony. Of this number, 292 were 

 admitted, making a total number of applications since the colony was 

 opened in 1893 of 10,782, and the actual number admitted 7,232. On. 

 the 30th Jmie, 1908, there were 65 men on the establishment, so that, 

 with the 292 new arrivals during the vear, 357 have been dealt with 

 during the twelve months under review. Of these, 65 left without giving, 

 any notice, 105 for positions found for them by the farm manager, 91 

 to look for work, wnth sufficient money earned on the colony to carry 

 them along while seeking more remunerative employment, whilst 21 were 

 discharged for \arious offences, and 8 were sent to Melbourne for medical 

 treatment, leaving 67 still on the books at the end of the year. The 

 average number of colonists was 64.2, and the average period per indi- 

 vidual 92- weeks. 



The cost of maintenance, including food, w^iges, and management, has 

 been 8s. 2d. per week per man, the cost of fcxxl alone being 3s. lod. per 

 week per man. 



Owing to the existence of the colony no deserving man need starve in 

 the city. Applications for admission are made everv week by the desti- 

 tute unemployed, and not a single week has gone bv without some having 

 been sent. Naturally, there are more applications in the winter than in 

 the summer, and evidences are continuallv lieing brought under notice 

 as to the value of the institution to destitute starving men. Independently 

 of the men who have been sent to the colonv, private employment for 51 

 men has been found, through the agency of the Charitv Organization 

 Society and private individuals. 



It will be seen by the accompanying list that, out of the 482 men who 

 applied, 48 different occupations were represented. This will show how 

 difficult it is for the manager to put them to profitable work. Their 

 physical condition, also, is such that, in the majority of cases, they can 

 be given light work only, but many go to the colony with the expressed 

 desire to learn something about agriculture. The orcupations, ages, and 

 religious denominations are as follow: — 



1 )fcuii;itioiis. 



Labourer ... ... ... ... ... ... i6^ 



Milker ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65 



Carpenter ... ... ... ... ... ... 27 



Cook ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2t; 



Gardener ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 



Groom ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 



Farm hand, clerk (13 of each) ... ... ... ... 26 



Ploughman, useful (11 of each) ... ... ... ... 22 



Draper, bootmaker (10 of each) ... ... ... ... 20 



Butcher ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 



Seamen, ironmoulder, painter, printer (5 of each) ... ... 20 



Blacksmith, miner, sailor, kitchenman, tailor, baker, waiter, 



and bookbinder (4 of each) ... ... ... ... 32 



Bushman, fireman, driver, and solicitor (3 of each) ... ... 12 



Kngine-fitter, engine-driver, grocer, tinsmith, sawyer, and 



plasterer (2 of each) ... ... ... ... ... 12 



Joiner, teacher, accountant, wheelwright, canvasser, pastry- 

 cook, shoeing-smith, French jiolisher, station hand, ship- 

 wright, confectioner, donkey-man, tentmaker, and civil 

 engineer (i of each) ... ... ... ... ... 14 



4S2 



