GENERAL BOOTH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2274, 31 October 1891, Page 2

GENERAL BOOTH.

In speaking in Wellington General Booth said that the horde of unfortunate people cost England about twenty millions sterling per year in poor law charity. .If he had that sura at his disposal, he would undertake to clear out the submerged tenth of England. In proposing a resolution, Sir Robert Stout said that he had specially liked that portion of General Booth’s address in which he proposed as a remedy for over population in cities to send the people on the land to work it, and he pointed out that the scheme of having commerical settlement was exactly the same as that propounded by his Government in 1886 and 1887. He believed that the fact of this village settlement scheme not having been carried out was responsible for thousands leaving New Zealand. General Booth’s reception in Lyttelton last Thursday morning was brilliant. Large crowds of officers and lasses from all partssurrounded the railway bridge from which the General delivered an address in reply to one presented him hy the mayor of Lyttelton, the secretary to the Wharf Labourers’ Union, Mr J. Joyce, M.H.R., and Councillor Laurenson on behalf of the people. He then breakfasted at Mr Joyce’s where he rested till 3 o’clock, when he travelled to Christchurch. Arriving at the railway station, he was driven round the principal streets, and the procession was about half a mile long, including three bands, and flags floated everywhere. On arrival at Cathedral Square, which was densely packed, the General delievered another address, The evening’s meeting at the Tuarq Street Hall on “ Darkest England” was the largest ever held in that building. All the reserved seats were filled, and the greatest enthusiasm was displayed on the General’s arriving. He looks fatigued, but says that this morning’s rest has done him much good. He was interviewed by the Lyttelton Times representative on Thursday, and ho said that he did not think New Zealand would be the site of his settlement, but he liked the colony and its climate. He contended that his scheme for placing surplus labour : on the land would benefit the labour market generally by relieving the towns. He claimed to be the working men’s friend, and whether he lived to carry out his scheme or not, they would find it out. .