IMMIGRATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 9

IMMIGRATION.

SALVATION ARMY'S WORK. A GREAT SCHEME. Commissioner Lamb, who is ono of tho leading members of the Salvation Army's emigration brigade in London, and who has been inspecting t'ho work .of the Army iii New Zealand, addressed a meeting at the Vivian Street citadel last evening. The meeting was presided over by Commissioner Richards. Commissioner Lamb, who was received with great applause, expressed his very hearty appreciation of the welcome which had been accorded him throughout the Dominion. He referred to the death of General Booth, whtf for so many years had been at the head of the Army. He also delivered an "appreciation of his successor, General Bramwell Booth, \vho, he said, was regarded by all who knew him iis an able and good man. Dealing with thci subject of immigration to the colonies, a department of the Army's work with which he is most closely connected, Commissioner Lamb stated that there were various reasons' why people Should desire to leave the Mother Country. These were social, political, religious, economic, and domestic. The Army was responsible every year for the transportation of thousands of workers to the colonies—especially Canada. He wished to say at the outset that the Army would have nothing to do with drunkards, loafers, lunatics, or other persons unsuited for life in new countries. The late General had always said: "I realise that the foundation ot new nations must be laid with the best people that can be got," therefore the Army'was careful in the selection of' its' emigrants. As' an indication of the field which the Army had to work at Hoiiie, lie stated that there were'in Great' Britain 800,000 men in a chronic state of unemployment, or under-employment. This great surplus of labour could surely bo absorbed in, othei portions of the Empire. Then there was the case of the women, who were in a majority of 1,350,01)0 .over the male population on the British Islesi The average weekly' wage for working women there was 7s. per week. Every year 200,000 boys of the.age of 14 years left the primary schools of Great Britain, and of these only 28 per cent, went into trades or professions. The rest drifted into casual employment. In Britain, also, there were 40,000 widows under the age of 40 years, with 120,000 dependent children, >vho were in receipt of chnritablo aid. This aid amounted to the mbagre sum of 2s. 6d. per week, with Is. per week and a loaf of bread for every child. From these classes of people tlie Army has drawn from 70,000 to 80,000 people per year during the last ten years for the oversea Dominions. When he'told them that less bnejhfllf per cent, of these had proved failures tliey "must admit that the Army-had made a fairly good selection. (Applause.) Commissioner Lamb' went on to detail the' work of 'the London Emigration Department in dispatching'theso people to the colonies after they had been selected. On the boats they were placed under tho caro of responsible officers of tho Army. In the case of emigrants for Canada, tho Dominion or Provincial Governments had officers on board .who carried with them lists of employers with yacancies. During the voyage a position was arranged for every ono of the emigrants. This was not uone in a haphazard manner, but the capabilities of .each man were taken into account before he was olfered the position! Railway tickets were made out on board so that "there was no confusion when the party reached Canada. It was possible that some of tie employers who were represented on the lists_ had filled their vacancies' before the immigrants arrived. In such cases the Army arranged for other positions, and paid the "new chum's" fare to. another, place where ho could get employment. ; There was a great .demand in Canada for young women, tof .whom ,pie. Army had exported 2000 fof , t !eacli"of ,the.,last-two' 1 years. Many of theso were provided for by the provincial governments, who greatly valued the.work.of tho. Army in this manner. The Army believed'in the doctrine of "nothing for nothing." The people who benefited should pay for the benefits. This was a sound principle. The young women were therefore expected to pay back the money advanced to .them for their passages by monthly instalments after they received employment. It was found that 90 per cent, of the girls did so. This system of repayment helped them to keep in touch with the girls for at least the first year after their arrival, which was, of course, a great thing. If the people of New Zealand desired immigrants, the Army was ready to do for them what it had done for Canada. Nothing would please them better: The old General had always said that he would not send people to any part of tlie world unless they would be welcomed. "If you want them," said the, speaker, "then we are here." pbmmissioner Lamb said that he had been asked to give his impressions of New Zealand. The first of these was that in New Zealand tho houses seemed for the most part to stand in their own grounds. There was an' absence of tenements, and ■ even of terraces of houses. This separation of dwellings made for strength and individuality of character. Secondly, he must 'say) that they would either have to make their men smaller or their railway carriages larger. (Laughter.) The present carriages would not do for future New Zealanders, if he could judge from the boys and girls lie had seen. In New Zealand he had missed .the bustle of the States and Cannda. Porhaps Now Zealanders could afford to bustle a little more, but not top much.