The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING.. TUESDAY, NOV. 12, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2235, 12 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING.. TUESDAY, NOV. 12, 1907.

THE NEED EOR IMMIGRATION. Some few weeks ago w.e drew attention to the urgent need of a .greatly increased immigration to the Dominion, and it is interesting to note that precisely the same problem is giving our neighbors of tlio Australian Commonwealth ,a good deal of .anxiety at the present time. Recently the Sydney Morning Herald commented on the cabled announcement that the immigration into Canada for the year ending last June totalled 250,000, and its remarks .are equally applicable to our own position on the population question. Our contemporary sums up the situation as follows: —“This'quarter of a million people came from all parts of the world, and thousands of them we dare say would not he able to pass the strict inquiry made by our Agent-General. All, however, •are eager to take .advantage of the opportunities for .bettering themselves which Canada affords. These opportuuitips, slight .as they must .appear to us, evidently hold forth promises which the .immigrants could net expect 'to realise in their country of origin; and it is in the insistence on these opportunities, ill the bringing of .them .forcibly and clearly under the notice of desirable persons, •that the Canadian immigration authorities set us in Australia an. .admirable example. .In comparison with Australia Canada has only one ■advantage—that of nearness to European centres of population, with the consequent cheapness of transit. This advantage, however, is being removed whenever authorities here offer assisted passages. In other respects we can do much .better for desirable immigrants than Canada can. In Australia wo have the best climate in the world, the most fertile and .productive of soils, unlimited mineral resources, growing industries, and everything which can afford good .prospects of a happy and prosperous life. In Canada the winter .is long and terribly severe, the cost of agricultural work of all kinds is therefore far higher than here, .and. the vast expanses of unproductive country present a gloomy prospect to Immigrants. Perhaps this is how it is that, whilst we always hear of the thousands of immigrants who land in Canada, .we are not informed oif the .number of

emigrants. “Still, Canada gets the immigrants and Australia does not, partly owing' to the relative distances (From Europe, partly to . our legislation, .and partly to our reraissness in the way of 'bringing our advantages clearly under notice. Yet we stand badly in need; of immigrants. In the six years ended last (December the excess df arrivals over departures in tlie Coinmomvea 1 til was only Clot. What we want is immigration on ia large scale; itbe -immigration of desirable men .and women, who will become worthy and useful citizens. The trades unions -in their ignorance are opposed to immigration, because itbey think .it will .mean reduction of wages; and they have been able by the assistance of office-seeking politicians to build a 'Great Wall of China '.-round the continent, their preserve. Yet it is population alone which can keep the 'industries going, which can increase production, which can develop resources —which can liold Australia, for the white man.” The .claims made on behalf of Australia in comparison with Canada as regards aits attractiveness are thoroughly justified, hut they can with still more justification, he urged m the case of our own Dominion. When will our politicians realise •their responsibilities in this matter and give some thought to the development of a practical and effective system of immigration?

At tlio Polico Court yestorday a first offender was dealt with in tlio usual manner.

Tlio box plans for Pollard’s Comic Opera season will bo opened at Mr. Miller’s at 10 to-morrow.

Mombors of tlio Chess Club are requested to attend a meeting of tlio Gisborne Chess Club, to be hold at tlio Club room this evening.

About 30 members of tlio Tuxanganui Fishing Club journeyed' yesterday to the Ariel Reef in tlio Tauten. Despite the weather a good day was spoilt, about 150 fish being caught, 'the biggest fish weighing 491 b.

A Southern exchange says: —Pollard’s production of “Bluebell .in Fairyland” is brilliantly spectacular, quite .pantomimic in its scenic splendor, and tlio 13 scenes into which the two acts are divided may bo described as thirteen works of art.

A large number of picnickers journeyed to the Waimii beach yesterday by Redstone's coaches. Singularly .there was practically no rain •at the beach, and the picnickers there were probably unique in spending a day’s outing quite unspoiled by rain.

Tlio annual picnic in connection with St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Sunday School l was t'o liavo been held at Colonel Porter’s grounds yosterday, but owing to tlio inclement weather it had to bo abandoned. Mr. Black took the children up tlio Taruhoru River in a launch, but as the weather bccamo bad they returned to town. Lunch was partaken of in the schoolroom, and the .afternoon..passed with games of various kinds.

Tho Salvation Army picnic \yas held yestorday at Mr. Redstone’s paddock, Cliildors road, and despite tlio rather unfavorable weather an enjoyablo time was spent. In tho afternoon ail adjournment was made to tho Barracks, where tlio programme of games for the children was continued, and tho day was eventually finished up by an open-air performance in Gladstone road by the band, at which, wo are informed, a liberal response was made to an appeal ioi funds. At tho conclusion 0110 and all expressed themselves as being thoroughly, satisfied with tlio day s entertainment.

It has eomo to he generally . ace opted ‘as an .axiom it hat it always rains on King’s Birthday, and yesterday was no exception. Tho heavy shower about'midday came as a disagreeable surprise to many picnickers on itlio IVaikaoae beach. Later 011 some funny sights were to be seen. First there were tlio' finishers in the bicycle race, who seemed to be clothed from head to foot, .though half their .dress was composed of ia coating of mud. Then came .the spectacle of a shootist walking along in a shower of rain with ia linen covering on his cap to save himself from sunstroke. Again, one could see a bowler with white hat and shoes making liis way along the street under an umbrella; and the cricketers going about with flannels splashed to tlio knee with mud were innumerable.