"New Chums."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 11

"New Chums."

THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE OLD CQUNTOtY. The essentially English young man, or the "new chum," as ho is colloquially termed, has bccomo a familiar figure in colonial life of recent years, and periodically the town is literally studded with young fellows whoso dress and bearing is hallmarked "made in England." The' Dominion must have an abnormal capacity for making use of young men, as practically every vessel arriving from England for the past three or four years has brought a contingent of youthful Britishers attracted by the advertisements and cheap fares arranged by the New Zealand Government. The now arrivals soon settle down, and the last shipload is usually merged in colonial lifo beforo the next lot arrives. And so the transplanting operation has gone on and continues to go on. Hard work is generally the portion of the immigrant, but in most cases ho is not afiaid of this, and wades in manfully at anything that offers; but many air castles totter and eventually fall in ruins on arrival at this end of the long journey. It is surprising how many of the new arrivals leave Homo knowing practically nothing of what lies beforo them. They are simply going to Now Zealand — a far-off country—a land of milk and honey—of which they have only a vague idea. A Surprise. The costumes worn by many of tho newcomers on arrival would lead ono to beliovo that they expected to get oif the steamer at Lyttelton and on to a shaggy bush pony and then away to a free and open lifo in tho land of sheep and gold. Provided with a small amount of capital they feel strong enough to conquer the new land. But what an awakening on arrival ! Instead of a thero is an up-to-date city throbbing with vigorous life, an imposing water front flanked with thousands of houses. They have simply changed from ono place of business; bustlo to another sphere of dash. Tho placo has nothing in .common with the sparseiy populated dream country of the moro ill-informed of the now arrivals. Thoughts of tho bush pony and gold aro cast asido as the/ reality of the situation dawns on the newcomers, who rapidly set about making tho best of the position.

Competition is keen on all sides and tho now-eomors are quickly swallowed up and colonisod, in dress at least, in the struggle for esistoncc. 1 That thoy work well has been proved, and now tho - young Englishman is to bo met in all occupations of city and country life, 'working cheerfully for tho elusive coin of the realm. A good many go back to England .disheartened, hut these, the men wlft) liavo never recovered from tho loss of their dreamland bush pony, can well bo spared. Tho majority of those who knew what they were coming to —and these form tho larger part of the immigrants—have remainod. Wo have still room for the honest worker, but no air space for the drone.