SIR IAN HAMILTON AND EMIGRATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1924, Page 4

SIR IAN HAMILTON AND EMIGRATION.

TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND,

General Sir lan Hamilton, speaking at the opening ol the British Legion Club at Penge during the pro-

gress of the omnibus strike, said that at Range and Anerley lie was glad they were doing llieir best to help their badly-wounded country on to her legs. All around the wreckers were busy. The rights and wrongs of the struggle acre too obscure and difficult lor most to understand, bul they did understand that England had only just turned tho corner towards recovery, and that she simply could not survive many more seizures of the sort she was siillering from to-day. The unobtrusive kindness of one exsorvieo man to another, said Sir lan had done more to hold the social fabric together than any other single far-, tor. So long as one human being felt that there was one other human being who took a personal, kindly interest in him, he would not cut bis own throat —ld alone anyone else’.-.

Ever since (he fatal phrase, ‘•Homes for homes,” was invented by a politician, that was the first tilin' that he (Sir lan) had allowed the word •‘emigration’’ to escape his lips. He had ask why, if he was keen on emigration, ln> himself did not emigrate, ‘'Hoing truihfnl.” said Sir Inn, "I would nave boon forced to reply, ’I simply can’t do d, liecaiise of my hopeless at-1 taehmclit to London.’ London catches hold ol yon as air’oefoptis gratis a periwinkle, and once yon are caught there is nothing will free you from that embrace, not tax collectors, not officers playing barrel organs, not even ground rents or strap-hanging.” Sir lan’ declared that lie should he the one great authority on emigration in the Kingdom, as lie had visited every hole and corner in the Empire as liispoetnr-npnor.nl of Overseas Forces. His experience was that the healthiest rluldren, with rosTeso cheeks, most resembling Kentish children in the dominions were to bo found in the .South Island of New Zealand, and on Vancouver Island, on the Pacific Coast of Canada. Those wore the places lie would advise married couples to make for. because perfect energy and perfect health was worth* a great deal more than rubies.