WILSON'S WARNING.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 826, 14 February 1903, Page 2

WILSON'S WARNING.

A JEREMIAD FOR THE BENEFIT OF AUSTRALIA. GREAT COMMERCIAL CRISIS I’REDK TED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 10.12 p.m., Feb. lffih. London, Feb. 10. Mr 11. W. Wilson, assistant editor of the Dally Mail, in a series of articles, anticipates an Australian crisis exceeding that of 1393, arising from perpetual borrowing. the policy of hindering immigration, the maintaining of a fictitious wage rate, aud drought. The writer states that eleven million pounds will have been expended in unproductive works during the five years ending March, 11304. Retrenchment, lie declares, has been confined to national defence. The indebtedness, the writer states, has been incurred in maintaining the worker in comfort and allluenee. while he regarded the newcomer merely as a competitor for wages. Within his own land he maintained a paradise. Despite deficits, a policy of relief works and old age pensions had been adopted. Australia ought to have grown and developed like a giant, but the birth-rate was steadily declining. The loss by emigration during the last two years had exceeded the gain by immigration.

Socialists had swayed the past policy and were now to be seen steering Austra liato not distant or uncertain ruin.