The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30. OUR GREAT RIVAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 198, 30 November 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30. OUR GREAT RIVAL.

New Zealand is interested in the Argentine Republic mainly for the reason that it grows sheep, and is, therefore, a rival, but in every way the great country is intensely interesting not only for its past history, its amazing progress and expansion, but because it is filling up with people in a prodigious hurry. Although in the course of a century the Spaniards achieved the marvellous task of conquerring Mexico and all the South American continent, including 1 the Argentine, the conquerors had little use for that land, because the Spaniards turned their thoughts to gold and nothing else. Under Spanish rule, therefore, the Argentine did not prosper, for agriculture was not an alluring idea to the men of ready sword and stirring adventure. Canning, by his policy, liberated South America from Spanish domination, but it was very long after the liberation that the peaceful arts succeeded perpetual bloodshed and tyranny. The Argentine dates her modern success from j the days of Sarmiento's presidency in 18G8. Before this date the people of the Argentine merely revolted. The country was in a state of constant turmoil and bloodshed, and there had been no real attempt to gather the wealth that was lying close to hand in its wonderful soil. From the year 1857 to 1902 the population increased by 450 per cent. —the peaceful arts had succeeded the continuous periods of bloodshed, and the results had attracted widespread interest and wholesale immigration. The chief reason for the immense increase in the prosperity of the Argentine is to be found in the enormous influx of people, and this point is the one above all others that should be hammered into the minds of the statesmen and people of empty lands. To emphasise this phase: In 1857 there were only 4000 immigrants. In 1908, the last year for which reliable figures are available, 225,710 people poured into the country. The larger proportion of the immigrants to the Argentine are Italians, the country which supplies the next largest number of recruits being Spain. Enormous numbers of French, Austrjans, Hungarians, British, German, Swiss, Belgians and others are eagerly welcomed into the country. Spaniards are showing increased eagerness to go to the Argentine, and it is believed that the returns for 1909-10 will snow that at least 100,000 people of each nationality have left their countries during each of the two years ending this month.. We quote these figures in order to show that the Argentine is as cosmopolitan as the United States, and in order to aver that the United States owes its enormous success as a commercial nation to its policy of opening its doors to all white races, whereby it obtains the combined brains and energy of Europe. The liberality of the Republic and the fact that it recognises in every new citizen a greater Strength is shown by this extract from the Immigrants' Act:— "Foreigners may obtain naturalisation papers after residing two years in Argentina, or earlier if they can prove service to the State. They are immune from compulsory military service for ten years after naturalisation. After from four to six years' naturalisation they are eligible for election as national dei puties or senators, but persons not naturalised may hold administrative positions in the executive Government. Article 20 of the National Constitution | says: 'Foreigners may freely exercise their callings or any profession for which they are qualified, navigate the rivers and coasts, make testamentary dispositions, marry in accordance with the laws of the Republic, own and deal in real estate, are exempt from differentiated taxation, travel, associate for lawful purposes, petition, and do all such things as may be legally done by born citizens of the State.'"

In connection with the absurd beliefs that Britain is being commercially wiped out in its world dealings by the United States, Germany and other rival countries, it is interesting to know that Englishmen, Irishmen, Scotsmen and the British colonial descendants of all three have taken the pre-eminent part in the great enterprises which have made the Argentine such a wonderful country. To look into the past a little, it is to be remembered that in the days of Spanish control Britishers had a very large share in the contraband trade, and it was possibly the knowledge then gained that made it easy on expansion for English money to be liberally poured into the country. Britishers were the railway pioneers, and Britain still does immensely the largest business with the Republic, 'having 34.3 per cent, of the import trade, Germany 13.9 per cent, and the United States 13.2 per cent. In order to demonstrate the lunacy of perpetually alleging that Germany is beating Britain for her all-round trade, here are the 1908 import figures:—England, £18,371,396; Germany, £7,569,415; United States, £7,119,400; France, £5,295,383; Italy, £4,982,649; Belgium, £2,550,674. The chief reason why the Argentine attracts millions of immigrants is that land is cheap. The Argentine welcomes a man to the land, not so much to use him and tie land as pawns in the great game of speculation, but so that he may use the land. The Republic welcomes the immigrant and is liberal to him when he | arrives. It doesn't worry about the country he comes from as long as he is a worker, and it does not put up its doors because the entry of foreigners might rob a native of a job. The progress of the Argentine is fascinating in every detail and an object lesson to all countries, but especially to conservative British colonies. What the future holds for Australia ami New Zealand none can foretell, but if Imili countries were able to attract population in the same ratio as the Argentine ix doiiKr there could bo no fear Hint some day the hordes of Asia will over-run lite lands.