"GENTEEL PAUPER IMMIGRANTS."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 156, 1 July 1880, Page 2

"GENTEEL PAUPER IMMIGRANTS."

To the Editor of the "Evening Mail." Sir —l am too busy to find time to answer all the scurrilous effusions which your contemporary, for some reason best known to himself, admits to his columns, but there appeared in a copy of the Colonist which reached me by last mail a misrepresentation so exceedingly gross tbat I send a line to contradict it. An anonymous libeller signing himself " Mechanic," feeling himself safe with his victim 13,000 miles off, sneers at my work as tending only to induce " genteel paupers "to emigrate. The following extract from one of my communications to the Field will show up better than any words of mine the ignorance or mendacity of " Mechanic." (The extract referred to has already appeared in our columns. — Ed. N.E.M.) I can understand ambitious politicians like Mr Pitt, who, if I am nofc mistaken, is the gentleman who tried to ride into Parliament two years ago on the backs of the Roman Catholics, pandering to work-ing-class prejudices, but I cannot understand a respectable journalist stooping so low. I should have thought the work which I am gratuitously providing—for your contemporary ought to know that I am no paid " emigration agent," as the Hon. R. Stout could at once tell him the terms of my offer of service, simply payment of expenseswould bave entitled me to the gratitude of all Nelsonians, at any rate. I venture to think if " Mechanic," who is probably well acquainted with tbe office of (he Colonist, is opposed to the immigration of such " genteel paupers," as I am seeking to send to Nelson, the Nelson tradesmen are not. Ifc strikes me tbat the vision of those beautiful slopes all round your city dotted over with villas occupied by men with from £200 to £.••00 a year would be quite as interesting to the Trafalgar street tradesmen as even that of the inflated John Graham transformed into a M.H.R. I am, &c, Arthur Clayden. 13, Tavistock Square, London, W.C. May 3.