IMMIGRANTS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 772, 3 October 1922, Page 5

IMMIGRANTS.

‘H. (To the Editor). Sfr —I was somewhat surprised at the tone of your Auckland letter re in the issue of Friday, the 22nd inst. Your paper is usually so (fair-minded* that I think you will hardly object to me taking exception to some of the contents of the letter in question. I am ore of the “new chums,” having been in this estLminable country exactly 14 months, and would like to say a word or two for the immigrants'. First, of all. the bulk of those now arriving are* ex-soldiers of the Imperial Forces, They are coming to a country, which they, along- with the courageous -New Zealand troops, successfully, defended. They are also extremely likely to be men who have “initiative and force qf character,” and alii >the requisite grit for yaking headiway lip a new country. In fact the very . worst hardships they are likely to be called on to endure here ,are child’s play in comparison with what they have endured in war-time. Secondly., they have a |ieal grievance. In all the letters I have read in the Auckland dailies that grievance has been inability to . get work. (They are not “bunglers of the job,” but men, who daily seeing their precious life-sav(.ngs dwindling to keep things going, can see no. prospect, of a job to earn hheir( living. Quite truly they have arrived during hard times, and certainly no ex-service man has any exause for coming here without a definite promise of work when he arrives, as the Home authorities are very particular on that -point. But now the poor fellow is here, and once properly established,, will become a potential unit ojf defence for these very defenceless islands, why sling such abuse at him as . is contained in your letter. Through no fault of my nominator here, who himself has (fallen on hard times. I myself have answered at lest 20 advertisements for employment during the last few months. * From one only have I had any reply—a refusal, Probably some of these unfortunate “miters ?” have had, an even more trying experience, and have been told as I have (notwithstanding necessary qualifications) a New Zeav handler will be given preference for a 1* job every time. Yet the N.Z. soldiers, and rightly so, was (feted and honoured and if, after the war, he chose to settle down in England no such disability w.as placed upon him, but he took his chance' fo'r a job, just as the “home bloke.” Is is not a fact that a good proportion qf the New Zealand troops were composed of men w..ho themselves were “new chums” just prior to enlistment. Also conditions are not exactly as they were ,fcv the early settlers, and no amount of energy and pluck can make up for altered conditions. Good land is a good price and! cannot be picked up by the hundred acres by swapping off a few beads or coloured skirts, or a gun or two. The 'good land is being farmed by experienced farmers,, and while many Lof these immigrants have energy and grit enough to farm, whdre is dhe farmer who will take an inexperienced man and train him for a few months ? As a matter of custom I read! all the advts, for work, including those for farm hands. I think I have seen about four farmers’ ads for a ‘‘man not necessarily experienced ” during the last twelve months. Is not that kindly letter by Mr Fowlds which appeared in the “Herald” a week or two back, a nicer way of welcoming new-comers, who after all are British than the letter by your Auckland correspondent ? On every batch of new arrivals there are sure to be one or two “rotters ” but let me assure you, the majority are men .who have risked everything for a chance in this new country, and are really determined to make good.) Auckland; (fell over itself a few weeks ago, in an effort to show - kindness to a few shipwrecked mariners from Home. The 'hospitality these men received was reported far and wide in the Homeland. I appeal for a touch of the same spirit on behalf of these permanent visitors. Personally 1 have "found the New Zealander a jolly good fellow;, and with very few exceptions full of generosity. 1 served alongside them in Gallipoli, and again in France, and am quite content to live alongside them in New Zealand,. But just a few are inclined to look upon the “new chum” as an outsider and unfortunately make him feel it. I ■frit one, have come to “God’s Own Country” >to and am busily adapting myself to the new conditions. I can innumerate many more, who came by the same boat who are doing likewise, You can help them by being patient with their grievances, and where these are real using your influence to remove them, by not re(ferxing to them as “those people” by recognising them as brethren from overseas and treating them as such. —I am, etc. * * STICKER