NO WORK IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 114, 3 November 1911, Page 8

NO WORK IN ENGLAND.

WHY HE CAME OUT.

CANADA OVERCROWDED. AN IMMIGRANT'S STORY. Large numbers of immigrants are arriving in New Zealand by every direct •teamer from England. The lonic landed 470 at Wellington last week, while the Turakina and Athenic carried over 1000 passengers. Adding to this number the 70 who arrived at Auckland on Sunday evening by the Ayrshire from Liverpool, it will be seen that the • Dominion's population has increased by 1500 in less than a fortnight. Amongst the Ayrshire's passengers is Mr. F. Moxsom, who hails from Bolton, Lancashire. In a conversation with a Herald reporter, Mr. Moxsom said things are in a deplorable state in the Old Country at present. When asked to express an opinion why such a large number of people came to make their home in New Zealand rather than Canada, Mr. Moxaom said, in his opinion, Canada, was overcrowded. Large numbers who had emigrated there were unable to procure employment, and were returning Home, only to swell the ever-increasing ranks of the unemployed there. "At any street corner," said Mr. Moxsom, "in almost any part of England and Scotland, you will see dozens of men looking for work. Once a man loses a position he never knows where his next job is coming from. I have personally known good tradesmen walk about for weeks endeavoring to get work of some description. There are two or three men too many for every job." Speaking of the wage of a laborer, Mr. Moxsom said that from 12s to 10s 104 a week was the ruling wage. Porters on ithe railways earned from 16a to £ 1 a week, "There is practically no work for tradesmen," he continued. "I have known carpenters who have secured work for a fortnight, and then been idle for stveral weeks. Some of these men have to support large families. No wonder that, like myself, they are anxious to get out to the colonies." Before Mr. Moxsom left his native town of Bolton, 5000 men employed in the iron trade at Horwiek, which is a few miles away, went on strike for kigher wages. This was about two months, ago, and when the Ayrshire was at Sydney Mr. Moxsom was surprised to read that the men were still out. "To give an idea how the strikes affected the whole community," said Mr. Moxsom, "butter rose in a week from Is 2d to Li 8d per lb." A large number of those who came out by the Ayrshire are farmers and miners, who left the ship at Brisbane. They are mostly young mt.i from Scotland. Mr. Moxsom is a road-maker by occupation, He stated that the passengers were greatly surprised on landing from the steamer to learn that a strike had taker place amongst the laboring classes ai Auckland.