OTHER SIDE OF PICTURE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5338, 12 October 1928, Page 4

OTHER SIDE OF PICTURE

PBDSPECXS IN W ZEALAND. A cablegram from London dated September 3 embodied a statement from the secretary of ithe| WaitomO Labour Party to the effect that an immigrant’s death at Otaki wa's one of many cases of a like nature which had qccurreid recently, and the writer added that hundreds of st,arving men wqre wajidering the of the couritry. The heading of “Starving Immigrants” caught the eye of a widow in Dunedin, who recently capne out fi cun Home, and she made sjQ|me pointed remarks on the subject. “1 came out from Scotland four years ago with my little girl, theyi aged eleven years'. My husband died eight years ago as the result of wrir service. All that I: possessed when I left was in two trunks ; it was; a lucky move ; I had no money , but I did bring, two letters certifying as to my character and readiness to work, also an introduction to a Dunedin clergyman, and these served my purpos,ei I found the people friendly and dec.en|t. to get On with, arid most certainly they have never looked Qin me aiskance for being a “hqmie.” The Minister immediately rang up a lady and asked if she wa,nted any charing done, and she not only took me on but recommended me to others,, so that in a very short time I had a 'seit round qf chafing ongagemenits'. I> still hold s,° many engagements that I am able to ta,ke a rest on Wednesdays aS well as Sundays, and thus keqp my heatlh so as to give good value ftojr my work. Have a Iqok through my little home; it isn’t a palace, but iit is} snug and comfortable. There is a gramojphone and a piano and a sewing mTkchine, and these, with our clothes and; other njecessariesi, are all paid fejr. J knew Avhat, it wa,s to Want a shilling, and I know hoav to keep it. I write to friends at Home and tell them how I have prospered, arid when they reply they wish me continuance of good luck, but nc»ne of them seem to think of coming out as I did.” “What, is ami% with the Old Country ?” asked the reporter. “I can give it to yolu in two jvordss,” wa;s the reply. "The dole; is doing it. It is taking away t.heir enterprise. Young folk are marrying on the dole and nothing else; it is ruining their independlance.