AN IMMIGRANT’S PROTEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2164, 17 August 1920, Page 2

AN IMMIGRANT’S PROTEST.

ONE of the recent immigrants to New Zealand writes to tin l Wellington Post, and refutes the statement made recently in the Douse “that (here is plenty el room lor the right kind of immigrant.” lie says: ‘'As a recent arrival here, I should like you jo confute this statement on the following fads. I eame to this country with a capital of f-MKI, desiring to lake up land for a small holding. I am quite capable of building my own abode (having built my own three-roomed bungalow entirely by myself in the. past) and for the slogging hard work that a small holding entails. I came here prepared to do (his, thinking 1 had sufficient capital to start on, and then, when started, hoped to get Government help. But what is the real position! I find that land in small parcels is only procurable at not less Umn £IOO an acre, usually nearer £2OO. The Go-

vernment land that 1 have inquired after 1 am told is not suitable for my purpose, and, furthermore, is miles from a school. On hearing the ahove statement, the only conclusion 1 can come to is that 1 am not the right kind of immigrant, is it reasonable to expect people to come here and pay such an inflated price for land ’ When they can procure land in the Old Country, the market of the world, within 30 miles of London, in Bunny Sussex, toi* £3O an acre, and the lines! main road land at £BO an acre, schools, (owns, and railways within easy reach. No, Sir, the Government has got to make (lie price of laud reasonable, il (bey want people on the land.”