HOW TO ATTRACT IMMIGRANTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1517, 13 August 1912, Page 4

HOW TO ATTRACT IMMIGRANTS.

t "A BIG PROPOSITION." (By Telegraph.—Soflcial Corrwonflonl.l Auckland, August 12. It has been urged that if free passages •were provided, numbers of desirable immigrants would be attracted to Neiv Zealand from the Old Country. According to Mr. John Pliey. aji immigrant on board the Essex which arrived yesterday, many good and honest workers who are willing to make tho journey are debarred from doina' so for lack of funds. Half the population of Scotland," he said, "would come to New Zealand tomorrow if they had tho money, but they haven't got tho money.' They are poor. They are good workers, but they can only earn enough to live upon, anil it is impossible for them to save anything. Not only would you get people from Scotland, but desirable settlors would also como from all' parts of the United Kingdom. Without free, passages, "however, only the few people who come to New Zealand at odd times .can save enough money for the voyage, and something for a rainy day. "The New Zealand Government should pay the whole of the passage money for e\ery immigrant. I know it is a big proposition, and would absorb a great deal of money, but in the end it would pay New Zealand handsomely. Tho now settlers should be selected, and your Government should only help the right stamp of men. Let the others pay their own way- if they want to como out." The new arrival went on to say that as bad times wore being experienced at Home, there was little prospect of many of the working class coming out unless they were assisted in tlve direction indicated. Ho also stated that the irregular. vovages made to New Zealand by immigrant steamers accounted for a loss in immigrants. "New Zealand is not kept before the public enough," he declared in conclusion. "If you write to the High Commissioner s office for information, you will bo supplied with pamphlets dealing with the country s resources, but you have to > seek the information. It is not distributed about the country, as in, the case of booklets, etc., on Canada.