EXODUS OF WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1123, 10 May 1911, Page 6

EXODUS OF WORKERS.

WHY THEY ARE LEAVING. (By Tdlonrt'Dh.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, May 9. Leaving by the Mahono lor Sydney last evening were 170 steerage passengers. T.iero were only 30 amongst tliem with return tickets, a tact significant in itself. Of course this docs not mean that the rest have left New Zealand never lo return, but in view of recent emigration returns the figures show a growing inclination on the part of workers to leave the country. A Herald representative went aboard [lie Maheno to ascertain the reasons "iven by the emigrants for their exit. ilany said they were going to Australia for the shearing season and to escape the ram of winter. On the other hand, however, there were a good number with quite a dillersnt story, the story of hmiRor for land. One man, stalwart, sunbronzed, a:id stamped with the indelible stamp of hard toil in the fields, gave his for leaving in these words: "why am I going away? Because, l>eing a competent farmer and with little capital, I am tired of working for another man without reasonable hope of obtaining land of my own. Why don't tlicy open up the lnnd? Surely there is enough io go round without that gambling system of balloting. A man may wait for years for the chance of working his own section, and then find himself just as far from his desire as when he slarlod. Your bflvcmnicnt is driving the ambitious amongst us away. Only tliemen who are content to remain stationary stav. Most, ol the available land is ridiculously dear, and other land which might be turned to good account cannot lie got hold of. Whore is the encouragement to us men who are striving to be our own bosses? I can tell von Ibis: Jf fho Governvient want to keep us in New Zealand I hoy had better o|>en up the thousands of acres of land l.Miif? idle, or they will find the best and mosl competent amongst the farming community will leave in search of more alluring prospects elsewhere." These views were borne out liv many other emigrants aboard Iho Maheno.