CURRENT TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 243, 20 February 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

SEE HOW THEY RUN! At Hie moment, when there is much dis tress among burnt-out settlers in Taranaki, it will comfort them to know that the Government intends to team of New Zealand athletes, who will presumably win a large number of "pots" at the Festival of Empire, and, one hopes, a word or two about our frozen mutton in between races. It is only a question of time before athletes will absolutely refuse to run, jump,, ride or swim unless paid by the Government for doing so. No doubt British people who have not travelled over tiie boggy backblocks of New Zealand in winter time, or who have never heard of unroaded settlements, shout a chorus of praise at the "loyalty" of New Zealand. The winning of a foot race in Britain apparently appeals more to the mind of the statesman than the struggles of the settlers, and any old monument in London can be sure of a nice fat sum from the New Zealand Treasury. If a few athletes who are not good enough "sports" to depend on themselves and their governing bodies are to be subsidised by the State, it seems reasonable enough that other young New Zealanders who go Home to do something useful should be supplied with Government cash. New Zealand statesmen.' who go to London for the Coronation will, we hope, carefully chase these purchased athletes round the country. It is by breaking the 100 yds record that nations are made, and by hustling from end to end of a swimming bath that roads are metalled and emigration fostered. It is only a question of time before the Government will open a Department of Athletes to run its sporting enterprises.. It might reasonably become a haven for the giants of the grass track who have gone "groggy" in the legs, and for has-been professors of natation who left their "second •wind" behind in British baths, Athletic bodies in New Zealand centres frequently complain that enthusiasm is dead, but with a fatherly Government which shies at £IOO for a road and gleefully forks out £SOO so that a few athletes shall have a chance to win "pots" to aid them running between tapes ought to become a more important industry than mere but-ter-making or oat-growing. Good luck to the bought-and-paid-for athletes!

THE AMERICAN IN CANADA. The remarkable growth of the American invasion of Canada and its possible effects on the future of the Dominion have been discussed lately. In 1900-1, 17,987 Americans crossed the border into Canada, In 1908-9 the figures rose to 59,832. In the twelve months ended March last they rose to 10.1J95. Tn the last ten years the total immigration from the United States into Canada has been 497,248, while that from the British Isles has been .562,054, or a balance of 04,806 in favor of the British immigrants. But the significant fact is this. Last year the 'United Stales immigration was nearly double that of the previous year and 44,007 in excess of the British immigration. And there is every probability that this relative excess of American settlers over British will continue owing to the conditions imposed by the Dominion Government and to the special requirements of Canada. Nor is the American invasion one of people only. It is an invasion of capital also. Settlers from the United States brought to Canada last year cash and effects valued at £20,000,000. The Commissioner of Emigration states that the average capital of the American immigrant is £220, whereas th,e average capital of the British immigrant is only £3. Nor is this all. American capital'controls vast areas of timber land in Western Canada. Nearly two-thirds of the valuable timber of British Columbia is said to he owned by United States companies. American land companies have entered into competition with the Dominion Government and with the Canadian and Pacific Railway, and are settling vast regions north of the United States border, American capital is invested in Canadian mines and industries, and is advanced on mortgage over many farms in the north-west and middle-west.