THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1912. THE ARGENTINE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10532, 19 January 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1912. THE ARGENTINE.

The Argentine Republic, made up of all sorts and conditions of men, has generally been, regarded as a coining country. Those engaged in the moat trade in New Zealand and Australia have regarded it for years as a most formidable rival, i'here is reason to think, however, that the vast territory JiL South America has been overboomed. At anyrate, its immigration, returns show a significant shrinkage. To October 31st, 1911, 154,609 persons entered the Republic, as against 310,221 in the previous year, a fall-ing-olf of 50 per cent. Of the arrivals, 54,000 were Spaniards, 46,000 Italians, 9000 Turks and 6000 Russians, while Germany supplied 2117. Whatever may be the reason, the slirinkage is a very noticeable one. 'The Argentine correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes:— It doubtless arises from the inability of the sutlers during the last few years to acquire land to make the country their permanent home. For some years the inflow of Italian colonists was occasioned by the confidence of tho people of Italy that anyone entering the Argentine could acquire a home for himself by applying himself steadily to work. Undoubtedly this was so until four or five years ago, , but during the last five years the increases ia the values of land have

heen such that- colonists cannot posisibly hbpe to settle in this Republic. We are face to face here with the same problem that Australia and Now Zealand have to face, and which the ' British Isles are now trying to face, : the monopoly of the 'land of the conn- | try by hip; 'landholders. These men will not- allow the workers of the soil j a margin to live on, so high are the j rents 'th-cy demand. Any attempt on the part of the masses lure to make known their wants is treated as sedition. There is absolutely no such ■tii-ng as political freedom. If any man thinks that he can speak out in. the Argentine he is radly mistaken. There is only one option for a r. a.nwho is not contented here, and that is to get out c-i rh-e country, a remark that i'pp'ics with equal force both to the -man born in the country and to the stranger who arrives on these shores.