AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2140, 24 July 1907, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION.

. AN INDISCREET LETTER. United Press Association—Copyright SYDNEY, July 23. The Immigration League resent the action of Dr. Arthur, the President, in writjng letters, same of which they allege are toq rQseate-lmed in regard to the prospects of emigrants. Matters have reached a crisis over a hitter sent to the secretary of the Victorian League, in which Dr. Arthur suggested tin: placing of pamphlets containing Information about the State aboard the mail steamers. He says: “Don’t mix up immigration and land setlement in your pamplile\ In the immigration book every-

tiling must be couleur dc rose; no bine of difficulty about getting land. You liocdn’t lio afraid you will bo rushed. Even when Queensland offered cheap farms in London there was only one applicant. As regards land settlement for home (Victorian) consumption, you can he as pessimistic as you like. The blacker the better, though don’t get too much on the line, ‘AVliat is tile use of inviting immigrants here when we have nothing to offer them f’ That would choke "ff subscriptions. Anyhow, don’t do anything to Frighten off immigrants, because tlie competition lor them is so severe in Europe 1 , and even if the conditions changed lor the better in Victoria you might find that it was of no avail, as you had given tin* place a bad reputation.’” The League ask Dr. Arthur to refrain from seeking re-election as President. Dr. Arthur declares the letter a private one, and that he was giving bis counsel in colloquial terms; that nothing should he done to retard the movement. He did not mean to suggest that people should be deceived. MELBOURNE, July 23. The Federal Government are interested in the trouble because some of tiio money voted by 1 arliament last vetv has gone to different portions of the Immigration League. Minister recognise that good work has been done by Dr. Arthur, and are inclined to think ho allowed )us seal to run away with his discretion. hohodv thov say, wants immigrants to conic here in ignorance of our comli-

tions , The State Acting-Premier, commenting on Dr. Arthur’s methods of attracting immigrants, said he utterly disapproved of ail' 1 method winch wih not bear the closest scrutiny The position should be stated exactly us jk exists, and then no 11 e"ncome] can say he was deceived either he painting tilings too attractively or by sup-pres-i ug facts.