ATTRACTING IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 3 April 1906, Page 5

ATTRACTING IMMIGRANTS.

CANADIAN AND AMERICAN COM-

PETITION.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. , Mr D. F, Dennehy, of Westpprt, who has just returned to New Zealand after a couple of years' absence abroad, We greater part of whieh-period was passed. in the United States, informed a newspaper reporter that he- saw 13,000 immigrants .landed' at New Fork in one day, and the inrush of population was also remarkably in evidence'at other inlets, such as Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco. Various States and towns, by gorgeous pamphlets and agents, who must have kissed the face off the blarney stone, endeavour to capture the strangers. One place, Idaho, which is bolstered up to the skies by the cute American, is characterised by the New Zealander as "the most heavenforsaken place that he has found," it being all dust and dirt, and sometimes not a drop of rain falling for_ months. Canada is striving valiantly for settlers, and those in authority are giving glowing accounts of the great north-west territory.

Sir Dennehy says that he made many inquiries about that district, and, for Xi& own part, he would rather; die at 35 in New Zealand or 40 in the United States than at SO in North-West Canada. Once Mr Dennehy took a trip from Queeristown (Ireland) to America, pureIy to mingle with men who were leaving their native land for a foreign shore. The steamer had between 1400 and 1500 emigrants on board, including 550 Irishmen, about 200 from England and Scotland, and about 700 Norwegians.Mr Dennehy, who. has had first hand acquaintance with the working of immigration schemes; is;of opinion that the best class of men cannot usually "be got by advertisement in towns.." He .con 1 siders that London is a poor recruiting ground, and urges that this colony should have an agent who could make excursions into the country;.i districts of the United Kinguom, and eetaire just the