THE DISTRESS IN EUROPE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1586, 17 October 1905, Page 2

THE DISTRESS IN EUROPE.

(To the 'Editor Gisborne .Times.)’ i Sir,— lt is evident from the information conveyed by cable that an nnnsual amount of misery and suffering prevails at present in the Old World. Among other items is tbe announcement that •• eighteen million Russians must be fed until next July if starvation is to be averted." Also wo aro told that the population of the famous provinoe of Andalosia (Spain) is Perishing of starvation owing to drought, and the accounts of a phenomenal number of unemployed and destitute in London this last winter aro probably Btill fresh in our minds. It has been affirmed too that the poverty in South Germany is so great that the masses no longer are able to purchase meat but are forced to buy offal from the butohers instead, Just think of tho signidoanoe of this detail alone 1 I am quite aware that it may be said that for all this wo in Australasia ara not responsible. Thst may be true, and yet I would ask—and ask in all earnestness—your readers whether something oannot be done to allevia‘o, if only in a minor degree, this vast and terrible distress ? Could not tbe New Z. a'and Government be requisitioned and urged to move in this direction by the institution of free tickets or merely nominal passenger fares fori? London, and, for tbe timo being, from I Bremen or Libou ? There is no denying *4 the extraordinary prosperity and industrial development of the United States. One great factor has been the admixture of various European races which has obtained there. One of toe English Ministries in days gone by became known as the "Cabinet of all Talents.” This same designation may apt'y be applied to the United Stat’s, In view of the comparative nearness of a pushing Oriental people the Japanese, Australia and New Zea'and are, so to speak, in an 11 exposed ” position, being to a large extent still empty.” We should, therefore, encourage immigra'ion for our own sekee, bb well as for tbe good we can do, from Britain and. the Continent.—l am yours, etc., J. G.COX.