THE AUSTRIAN IMMIGRANT AS A SOCIAL ACQUISITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 87, 11 April 1906, Page 8

THE AUSTRIAN IMMIGRANT AS A SOCIAL ACQUISITION.

(To the Editor.l Sir, —I have read the articles by "Colonial" with some interest, but he makes certain statements which I know are not in accordance with fact, and which I feel called upon to contradict. In your supplement of 4th April, 1906, he says: "One witness before the commission of 1898 said he had never known an Austrian to subscribe to any cricket, race, or athletic fund," and adds, for himself: "He might have added church, hospital, or benevolent institution without violating his oath." It is within my knowledge that quite recently the Austrians subscribed a considerable sum of money for the purpose of sending an unfortunate countryman of theirs, who had become a charge upon the Auckland Charitable Aid Board, home to his native village. Surely this speaks for itself, and an inquiry at the Board office will corroborate my statement. I do not think that amongst my friends or acquaintances there is one single Austrian, but iv travelling about the country I hear nothing but good about them. They are industrious, honest, sober, and pay their way, which, as a Britisher, I am sorry to admit, canhot -be said about, the average British gumdigger. To sum up, the Austrian is just about the same as other "white" people, and will make a good colonist. He has his faults no doubt, and in the eyes of "Colonist" his chief one appears to be a desire to work as hard as he can and make as much as he can! On the gumfields he is his own employer, and if he would work as hard for mc as he does for himself I would be glad to employ him. He doesn't know anything about the tricks of labour unions, and if he were a bricklayer would probably lay 1000 bricks a day instead of the unionist's 400 or 500.

As I have previously stated, T know no Austrians personally, but being a "Britisher" I like "FAIR PLAY.