IRISH IMMIGRANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1923, Page 4

IRISH IMMIGRANTS

LONDON, duly d. L-ist week "’lke Times" published a statement in:in its Wellington correspondent with reference to the disadvantages suffered by emigrants to New Zealand from the Free State. It was stated that this was due to the "refusai" of the Free Stale Government to adopt the principles of the Empire Settlement Act. In referring to this, in a leading article, the "Irish. Time*’’ shows that the Free State Government have merely rot Inw.l lime to put the matter right. "Since the constitution of the Free Male only Irish emigrants from tlie six Northern countries have been" eligible for the assisted passages." said the writer. "A quest.:on was raised alieiit this anomaly in New Zealand, and the. authorities there said (hat- tin' fault lay with the Free State Government, which had rein-it: to adopt the Empire Settlement Act We are glad lo learn that lids statement is inaccurate. The l 1 ree Stale Government ha . not refused to adopt :h Alt. It simply has r t had an ot:p nullity of ecii-dVriug the matter, and -v; -r I'reni i "fedries mi (Tibia' nurn-levs that Hi- omission will he rociifiod at ill" cell possible moment. I Thi-: is tha first tine* that the matter has been raised. No complain bad hithcri.) been made. It i- understood that the Free State Government has, in fact, no object ion lo adopting the Empire Settlement' Act. "While nobody is anxious iu see anything in the nature ol a general exodus from iho Free State, there are, no doubt, many wlm arc anxious to go ] in the Dominions, hut, lack tho neces- | sary mentis. Such men. finite dc- ; 111 i: 11x, will he driven to the Foiled ; Stale.,, where in due < .ill-•<■ They will I become American citizens, and lie lost jto Ireland. The Five Slate citizen | who gore. In Australia or New Zealand ] on the ether ham!, reta'ns his Imperial status, a ltd for ilia! reason alone | cor Government ought to do evoryj tiling in its power to divert (h • stream of emigration from New York to A\elliiigion or Mo!houni"."