LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

IMMIGRATION, : HOW IT IS ENCOURAGED BVT NEW ' Sir,-Seeing that in a few days cut new ! High Commissioner will bo leaving for '. the scene of his official labours, I should ' be- greatly obliged if you would give publicity to tho following facts, which 1 had hoped to send yon in time, to get I : so mo discussion upon them before iir. .Mackenzie left. I fear that is now out of the iiiiestinn, but as tho topic of immigration has been much to the fore of late, you will, I kuow, niTord space in your influential paper tor a few facts bearing upon that vital question. As to the manner of their presentation, you may think the mode 1 have adopted (that of a letter) is not tho best vehicle for publication; but jor the.matter 1 can personally vouch, having taken an active interest in the (lUestum of immigration out hero and in hnglaml for many years past. - I need not mention tlw enormous pains other countries aro taking to advertise themselves, and to induce intending emigrants to their shores. That is common knowledge, and doubtless many contemplating a move—or even those who are not -are. favourably impressed and inllu.'n:ed in their choice by the splendidly-engin-eered schemes put forth by Canada, particularly, and, in a lesser degree, by \ustralia; also by the United States of America, who still claim a big toll of the exodus from the Old Laud. Now, in the matter of immigration, it is agreed that not alone- numbers, but quality, tells mightily in the asset. Judged by either standard, New Zealand is. being badly handicapped. Why? Simply because she has limited her held by unwise and unfair methods, and can only get hold of those (1) who by chance apply at her London office, and (2) those who will r.ot go anywhere else. What I mean is this. What with the longer voyage—and that appals a great many inexperienced men, who have never travelled much oven about England—ami the paucity of information (or false information, oiten) ? New Zealand already is at a serious disadvantage, and must sillier materially even were the methods equally fair as regards tho shipping agents and others, who, for tho past thirty or forty years, have had to educate the people regarding the colonies, and at their own expense. As far as this country is concerned, that is practically the case to-day. For several years past I have kept New Zealand before the Leicester people,' by supplying illustrated weeklies for showing in our office windows, which is centrally situated.in Leicester, a large town in the Midlands, which offers immense i possibilities as a field for exploitation. Beside this, I have on my visits Home arranged at their own home, amongst their friends—every day or two, and was successful in obtaining , quite, a number of the very best type of emigrant, often with- capital—one had .£2OOO, another .i'CCOO—who would never., have, taken tUo trouble to travel to London to interview for a few nuirutes some underling of the High Commissioner's Department, who could not speak from personal experience of. cither their present state of life, or that in contemplation. Not from this alono tire we suffering,'but so little encouragement is given in the way of commission or other help that wherever possible would-be inquirers re immigration are actually diverted from coming this way, because our Government representative in London refuses to allow auy recompense even, when tho initial work is done by the country agent. This is blind folly, and results in one getting the last "culls," instead of the very best men and women, who aro induced to go elsewhere, because of the greater reward I offered, without exception,, by all tho other colonies to the shipping agents generally of the United Kingdom. This short-sighted policy actually led all the chief provincial shipping agencies to amalgamate for their own protection! under the title of "The British Passenger Agents' Association." a very live body,' who hold periodical meetings at various centres, and whose active opposition ha 3 now to be fought and overcome, in addition to tho already sufficiently unfavourable handicap of distance and lack of knowledge of these islands.A few extracts fvom recent letters from a brother who managed the office for Leicestershire, will afford striking proof of the need for improvement:— "Wo are shipping hnndreds to Canada, but cannot do with New Zealand at all. Tour London office will not give me any lencotuagemont, and they advertise in our Leicester papers, even saying all must apply direct,to the High Commissioner, Victoria Street, S.AY., for particulars of fares and passage. No other. Government would do this, and you know how we liave worked up the .Inquiries." Another letter says (with "enthusiasm): "Shipping business is very good. We have hired the large Temperance Hall for a special lecture on the 30th. Last year we had the small one, and w«re crowded -ait—had. to turn people away. The lecture is about the vmgiitcd readymade farms of C.l\"R. in Alberta principally. We are told we booked two or tlu-ee more passengers last year than Dean and Dawson, our contemporaries here, so we, get our share. New Zealand is not going at all. We cannot get fair treatment and so most agents have lost confidence in working for your Government on such terms: Australia ia doing fine, and we secured over 50 applications for assisted passages after one lecture. Canada is still tho best, and thty pay us a bonus and treat us fair, sending delegates and lecturers galore, paying all expenses. I hojpe to get a party of over 30 from Our 'Distress Committees'' efThis one refers to that burning question with us, "Domestic Servants":—"ll von know of any wanting goed girls, and will send me names and addresses, details of work, wage?, etc., and you could undertake to have them met on lauding, I could do much for you, as I do this for Canada, the Government of which guarantees situations and meets'the emigrants. I have booked 40 for one boat for April. We also booked 50 after a lecture by a good man, who was sent once by Australia to assist ns shipping agents throughout the country. But your Government (New Zealand) doesn't treat us as fair as any of the others. As before mentioned, even in our local papers applicants are requested to apply direct to London. This is gravely uujust after our working un the whole emigration and shipping business, giving lectures and distributing literature, and interviewing, as you and Simpson, did (the cost of all of which was defrayed by us), by myself over 20 year?; and this firm for over 40. There is no other Government' office here that behaves in this iuanaer. I have- had interviews with Mr. Donno nnd others in London, and all to no effect. There is still the "nominated passages" question, hundreds of which we lose all remuneration for, and after first of all, a-s you know! finding, and starting tho pioneer. Our association has done all it can on this side. Our secretary is writing to your papers there." If you. will kindly permit ono more extract I shall feel deeply grateful. "Trade keeps pretty good; my clerk has gone to Liverpool to see. 35 passengers off to Canada on' one. boat, but there are over 100 from Leicester altogether! Cooke, Dean, and TJavson, and ourselves had a special train for passengers and 'their friends. Glad you are keeping one complaint; warm for us in New Zealand. A woman called the other day to say her husband had nominated her and family. (We booked him a year ago.) They told her we were to make all the arrangements for their passages. He wrote the High Commissioner to the same effect, but that official curtly pointed out to her that ho appointed his own agents. Can you wonder we lose heart and interest in your . country?" With this last extract T will conclude, thanking you in anticipation for 'α-ssistius to ventilate what so many agents describe as a real grievance.—l am. etc.. w. Asmrax. AVniijfunui. .