ENGLISH LABOURERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2680, 14 September 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

ENGLISH LABOURERS.

The London Daily Chronicle says, in writing of some " practical public difficulties involving very grave issues for the country " : —We may take it that our main perplexities at present arise from three clearly marked] movements of population. Agricultural labourers are leaving a lamentable void on many a country side in order to herd in the lowest and already over-crowded|quarters of large cities. The immigration of a lot of impoverished foreigners is intensifying the misery of the slums. At tho same time our colonies and tho United States aro drawing from us every year no inconsiderable portion of our best manhood. This latter process we cannot cheek, nor should we desire to place barriers in the way of the impulse which has sent and i& sending so many of our countrymen across the sea to better themselves and to help in the building of new Englands. But the other two injurious movements of population may be impeded or put a stop to altogether. It is monstrous that we should be flooded with foreign paupers. Even the United States with its vast territories has declined to submit to a similar nuisance. Immigrants should be compelled to ofEer at the ports of arrival proof that they aro not of the pauper or helpless class of citizens. With our streets overfilled with our own poor, it is a folly to continue to allow the poor of other countries to bo shunted by shiploads on to our shores. Then there is the question of the agricultual laborer. Canon Furse observes, probably with justice, that it is the " denial of independence to the rustic laborer which is driving him into the cities and rapidly bring, ing about in London an intolerable state of things. " Here, indeed, the Church can help. If it ranges itself on the laborer's side, and assists him in his aspirations after a position by his homestead worthy of an Englishman, tho reform of his land and game laws will probably be achieved and tho rural laborers be transformed into a prosperous and self-respecting peasantry too contented to migrate rashly to smoky cities.