WARNING TO EMIGRANTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 17 September 1913, Page 7

WARNING TO EMIGRANTS.

LETTER FROM? HIGH COMMIStfiONEK. The last mall brought the following vigorous letter, written by the High Commissioner: — 4gSir,—l observe that this country is "still being flooded with literature headed "Warnings to Emigrants,' etc., And many newspapers with letters regarding New Zealand's Defence Bchemej also pathetic stories are being told respecting a few stormy petrels who have left the Dominion. It is as well to make it quite clear that New Zealand has n Defence scheme which has met with the almost unanimous support of our Parliament, and has been before the people at three elections; and a case has recently come under my notice of a man with a grown-up family regarding the Defence scheme as an additional reason for his settlinig there. The intention of the Act is to train our young men so that they may take a manly and effective part should ever an attack be made upon our country. It is absurd for us to rely upon, and improper that we should expect, Britain's furnishing us with the means of defence in a case of emergency. We realise that if Britain is involved in a war she will require all her forces for that war. We are also aware that we are not far distant from Asia, from whifflP continent trouble may come. Our people live .in a delightful country, and in no place on God's earth is there a better opening for industrial well-doing folk. That being the case, it is the ..mtentioJL .of-fcvir peopie to retain, if possible, that country for those who realise the great privileges they enjoy in living there. Certain people have returned to the Old Land, S!}d >Y£ New Zealanders are heartily glad to be rid of them. They used the money of the colonists to help them to travel to New Zealand, and : -ihey took very little with them', some of them did remarkably well during £slie time" they lived in the pompon, and I might say that not only did Some create disturbances there in connection with our military training, but in a few instances they • quarrelled with J2hureh, school and Councils. We $Ph it to be distinctly understood that we have no desire to receive anyone in New Zealand who has not the manliness to take his share in defending that country and in protecting its women and children should' ever troublous times arise. We do not want them and we are glad to be rid of those who have unfortunately used our money to go to our country and who have broken obligations they took upon themselves when they received that money. I would ( add that those people, before being assisted to emigrate, were supplied with literature showing that they were subject to be called upon to render military service. It should be mentioned that those who undergo military training receive at least 28s per week during that training, and are provided with food and accommodation. I notice my predecessor in office is reported to have said since his return to New Zealand that he had heard of objections to universal training made there by a small section of people, but it was his opirnion that if there were men who were not prepared to do their duty to protect their mothers, sisters and wives from a foreign foe, he would gladly contribute his share in assisting them to leave the country.' ; More people are applying just now to go to New Zeala»i|.than we are prepared to take, so that those who are" spending their money in warning their friends to stay away are really _rendering us a most valuable service, because they are preventing the undesirable from going and leaving room for people of grit courage to take the available ispace on board the vessels.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, THOS. MACKENZIE, ' , High Commissioner for ■ New Zealand. 13 Victoria St., London, S.W., , 6th August, 1913. .