THROUGH NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8172, 30 June 1906, Page 6

THROUGH NEW ZEALAND.

NO. II

(By Two Australian Journalists)

(Specially Written for the Age). Since leaving Mastertoa we have continued our wanderings in search of employment, until we have reached the flax country, and have gained an insight, into what is said to be one of the principal industries of New Zealund. Along the route we saw and heard many things worthy of note, and were afforded numerous opportunities of making comparisons between the conditions existing in this country and our own laud. If we found employment slack in the Wairarapa we cannot say that we noticed any improvement in the Manawatu. "You have struck a very bad time to look for work," j we have been repeatedly told, and, | in good sooth, it seems like it. In one thing at least we are assured, and that is that the statement so often circulated abroad to the effect that there is no lack of employment in New Zealand is, to put it mildly, incorreat. In Wellington we found hundreds of men eagerly looking for woi*k, and praotically the same condition of affairs appears to exist in the country. The Wairarapa and the Manawatu are said to be amongst the best districts in New Zealand, and yet the men who are in work do not appear to be doing any better, if as well, as similar classes of men might be expected to do in Australia. On leaving Masterton we trudged along the main road towards Pabiatua, with the intention of crossing tbenoe to Palmerston. We called upon several farmers en route, and were kindly treated, besides gaining some information whioh may prove useful. At one cosy-looking farmhouse we were told that if the labour oonditiona as applied to farms were made too severe farmers would forswear agriculture aDd devote themselves to sheepbreeding only, which would mean a very great lessening in the number of hands employed. On the way to Mauticeville we noticed that the land was devot»d chiefly to sheep, with a proportion of dairy cattle. Later on, no doubt, some of this land will be put under cultivation, when the returns from it will be considerably increased. The numerous creameries along the road we regard as an indication that the dairying industry is progressing in this district. The old deserted sawmills, on tne other hand, show that where the timber industry flourished once it flourisbeth 110 more, but the loads of freshly cut timber whioh we met proves that the buzz of the saw is to be heard further back, where the bush has not yet been cut out. Australia is interested in New Zealand's timber industry, as it has to import a good deal of timber from this country. It is to be feared that the question of preserving the lite of the forests has not received in either place as much attention as it should have done in view of the importance of the industry another value of an unfailing supply of good and marketable timber., The pretty winding toad past the attractive looking little township of Maurioeville tended to make oar walk on a bright sunny day very enjoyable. Nrfxt day we continued oar way towards Eketahana. We had not proceeded far when we met a young fellow, poorly clad, and minus a "swag." "Have you auy tobacco?" was the query with which he opened up a conversation. Be had come from the Main Trunk Line, and was looking for a fresh job. He left Taihape with three others, all of whom got work at vaiious plaoes on the way down, until our young frienc", like the last rose of summer, was left blooming alone. And he was alone, in the true sease of the word. He was penniless, and probably friendless, and did not appear to have anything like a clear conception as to where he was going. He told us there was navvying work going on at Eketahuna, "but," he added, "be sure to tell the stationmaeter that you are over 25; that's how he had me." Further on we met a man carrying a comfortable looking "Matilda." He had come from the Longburn freezing works, and hoped to hear of something in Masterton. At night we found h typical tramp—a genial Irishman, and an Imperial pensioner—camped in a whare. His conversation was bo'h entertaining and instructive. There were few turns of the road whioh he did not know. He told us that it was a common thing for regular tramps to deliberately mislead strangers to prevent them encroaching on their preserves. Evidently there is also competition in the tramp business. And some of those in the business excite the wrath of their fellows by destroying the whares alongside the road, tearing the lining boards off to use as firewood, and leaving the place in a condition of general disorder, in some parts of Australia the Government provides shelters wherein the weary tramp, be he a genuine seeker after work, or a "Murrumbidgee whaler," may camp for the night. On the stations, too, there are regular travellers' huta utilised for the same purpose. In New Zealand, where, owing to the more rigorous climate, there i« greater need for such accommodation, travellers along the main roads have to depend to a great extent upon the' whares tc be found at the sides of old sawmills and such places, and it is not too much to ask that those who use thorn should leave them in as good condition as that in which they find them. There are some pretty spots on the road approaching Eketahuna, which we found to be a town of no very great pretensions. It has still to grow, and there is plenty, of room for improvements. The streets, except, the main street, are in a primitive condition as yet, but wo noticed several good shops and hotels, and some new buildings in oourae of erection. The publio hall is commodious and well-appointed, and there is a small library whioh cannot very well be said to be up-to-date. On the way to Pahiatua we noted the "deserted village" appearance of Hamua Junction, where the hotel, public school, and Roman Catholic Church aeemefl to be Un»

beat preserved buildings. It was near here we called upou a farmer, who wished to knew whether we J belonged to the latest batch of immigrants from Home. Learning that we were Australians he enquired how Australia was. We told him that things were looking up there. "Then why did you come to New Zealand?" "Owing to the glowing accounts we heard about it," was the reply. Judging by the rest, of this gentleman's conversation it would seem that he doubted our wisdom in deoiding to come to "God's own country." In course of 'time, no doubt, we will see whether it was another case of distant hills being greenest.