WHAT DO WE LACK?

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 8

WHAT DO WE LACK?

TWENTY MILLION SETTLERS. THE ITALIAN VIEW OF THINGS. TOLD WHILE THE WHAREHOU WAITED Immigration is a question which interested Dr. Capra, the eminent Italian cleric, who recently visited Wellington. It is a matter which he has been detailed to examino wherever he goes, as, owing to the extreme poverty that exists in tho overcrowded districts of Italy, it is one that interests both tho Government and the people of that country. It is not exaggerating to say that millions of Italians have emigrated from Italy to England, Canada, tho United States, and South America, during the last quarter of a century, and Italy keeps in touch with her people wherever they may be. Part of Dr. Capra's duties was to inquire into tho economic conditions of the countries which ho might visit, and to report on their suitability as outlets for thoso desirous of emigrating. This information is not put away to become dust-covered on a bureau shelf. It is used, whenever an Italian acquaints tho authorities of his intention to emigrate. "Where to?" they ask. "Nova Zealandia," he replies. Tho Departmental information on New Zealand is turned up, and permission is given the applicant to emigrate or not, according to the prospects that offer, for the Government of Italy has statutory power to prevent her people emigrating if she does not so desire it. For instance, some little time ago the Belgian authorities notified the Italian Government that she desired Italian immigrants for settlement on the Congo, and SO families were about to sail there, when they were stopped by Government order. Dr. Capra's report had been against emigration to the Congo.

Why Waste Gcod Land? Dr. Capra left for Sydney last Friday, but. before doing so, expressed himself as delighted with New Zealand, so a favourable report is certain. He expressed his views at some length to Mr. J. Milcsi, president of the (xanbaldi Club in Wellington, ami both found that they were in accord in regard to what was wanted in New Zealand. Mr. Alijesi talks interestingly. "There should ho twenty million people licre, said Mr. Milesi, "and there will be, but I don't know what colour they will be. We have a line country, very productive, but thero are no people. Plenty of land at the back of Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, and Auckland not touched."' "Yes, Maori land tied up and other laud too high in pricu for tho immigrant." "That is nothing to do with"it," said the Venetian. '.'Lands that the Maori will not work should be given to others to work. You cannot defeat Nature! Here is land enough to' support twenty milliciih, and there is only one. Some day Japan or China will say: 'You havo a fine large country here, but you have no people to cultivate it—l will send you some of my surplus millions !' and they will- come whether wo like it. or not. You are fooling with the land, question. The Government should brush asido all the hampering legislation, and say, 'Wo will settle the land,' and offer inducements for good immigrants to coine, as Brazil and the Argentino did. I was attached to the Immigration Office in Buenos Ayres as interpreter, and I know something of tho way in which they went about getting tho people on the land thero. ■

Real Immlgation. "Tho Governments, of Brazil and tho Argentine Republic' were so keen to get population that they set about offering genuine inducements to Italian farmers. Each family which emigrated had their fares paid, and wore placed on fifty acres of land without expense to themselves. .Tho first year the Government, or it, might'be tho private oivner of lands, kept {horn iii all the n'eces'sarics of life. The second year, when perhaps some of the land could be cropped, tho . allowance was cut down to , naif; and tho third year (by which time the land was getting into shape) only clothes were provided for the family. Theu for seven years they were allowed to enjoy the produce of tho land—tho fruits of their industry. At the expiration of the tenth year the land, then reclaimed from tho wild, reverted either to the Government or tho private individual, whoever the owner might be, unless, as was generally tho caso, it was purchased by the people who had made a smiling farm out of a patch of prairio. This system paid the owner of vast estates, as it provided him with_ labour, which ho could not otherwise obtain, at a minimum cost, and, at tho end of the term, ho found himself in possession of a vast estate under cultivation. It paid tho people, too. They got away from tho poverty that besets tho farming class in Italy, and gave them ten years to get ahead of it—how much ahead depended on individual effort.

"Both with Brazil and tho Argentino.no risks wero taken with immigrants. They wanted people acquainted with tho soil, and they saw that they got them. They wcro not liko the lot that camo from Italy to New Zealand 35 years ago. They were all sortscarpenters, bootmakers, and so on. No, the emigrants had to prove that they wero farmers beforo thoy wero passed in Italy— each had to show a paper, signed by the proper official of their district, stating that they were farmers who wanted to follow their calling in the new country that was throwing its arms open to them. "Such people were treated splendidly. On arrival they were met by Government officials, taken to bbardinghouses, and kept for a week. Then, when they were placed, their fares wero paid, and oven money was given to keep them in food whilst travelling to their ultimate destination. . ; . .

; Wanted: .More than Dreadnoughts. "That is immigration at its best. Hero," said Mr. Milesi, shrugging his shoulders, "it is different. The Government is always saying that it wants population, but it does, not do anything to encourage it. The careful young man here does not want to think of marriage. Ho is getting £2 or £2 10s. a week, pays 18s. or £1 a week for his board, and the rest ho can have for himself—to buy beer or cigars with, if he likes. But, married, he has to pay £1 a week rent right away before anything else, and there' are two to live on the rest before others arrive —no, it is not encouraging I This country "does want population—wants it worse than Dreadnoughts, and it should get the right sort by hook or by crook, beforo the wrong kind forces it way in.

The above is the effect of Mr. Milcsi's views on immigration, and they embody those of Dr. Capra, whoso business is to visit all parts of the world and form well-based opinions on this and other subjects of national jroportanco. They wore conveyed in jerky little bits as ho directed the unloading and carting off of several tons of wharehou near the Taranaki Street wharf in the sunglow of yesterday afternoon. Mr. Milesi is especially pleased that Dr. Capra, though a churchman, paid the Garibaldi Club a visit during his visit to Wellington, and all present were delighted at the address which the eminent doctor delivered before the club last week.