The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, May 20th., 1913. THE PREMIER ON DEFENCE MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1099, 20 May 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, May 20th., 1913. THE PREMIER ON DEFENCE MATTERS.

Speaking at Christchurch last week Premier Massey said he was glad to be able to say that matters connected with the Defence Act were, on the whole, working smoothly and well, and the people of the country had begun to realise its value and importance. It was hardly necessary for him to remind them that the Government had found it desirable to send the Minister of Defence to England, and that while he was there the Hon. Jas. Allen had an opportunil> of conferring with the Imperial authorities on both the laud and naval defences. Some of the Government’s journalistic friends were impatient to know what had been done. That would be made public in due course. The proper thing was for Mr Allen first to get back to New Zealand and have an opportunity of conferring with his colleagues. Any proposals the Government had to make would be laid belore Parliament in a proper and constitutional manner. “As far as I am concerned,” Mr Massey continued, “and I speak as a citizen of the Empire, we ought to do everything possible to provide for our land defence so that in the event of trouble we may be able to take care of ourselves. There is an Imperial fleet in the British home waters able to hold its own against any possible enemy or enemies, so I hope the time has come when there should be a British fleet in the Pacific also, able to hold its own agains: any possible enemy or enemies, or any probable combination in these seas. ’ ’

An interest in New Zealand’s immigration system was displayed by Professor Archibald, a visiting meteorologist from London, during a fairly lengthy sojourn, which ended with the departure of the Niagara from Auckland for Vancouver on Saturday. “I think it would be highly desirable,” he said to a reporter before leaving, “if in future intending immigrants were examined very minutely before leaving England. For this purpose, I think, female agents should be appointed by the Government to inspect intending women Immigrants, and male agents to inspect men. These agents should thoroughly explain all facts concerning necessary qualifications, rates of pay, and the nature ot work to be undertaken in New Zealand.” The departing professor said he had reason to believe, as a result of certain cases which had come under his notice here, that immigrants were coming out without proper knowledge of the conditions under which they were ex-, pected to work, and with inflated ideas of the wages they might expect. Consequently they became disheartened in the early stages of their colonial experiences, and the best was not obtained from their efforts. Another phase of the question, he added, was that under the present system of selection in England people unsuited for work in this country were allowed to emigrate with false impressions of what awaited tnem.