THE IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 145, 19 June 1906, Page 3

THE IMMIGRANTS.

A PROMISING LOT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent,) i WELLINGTON, Monday. ' Another big batch of immigrants (o9GV arrived from London by the Athenic this morning. The passengers (according to the 'Post') are a fine, healthy looking lot of men and women, who should make satisfactory settlers, and are probably the best sample all round that have reached this colony of late. Every one appeared to be imbued with the idea that they have only to work, to do well in New Zealand. One young Englishman, in an interview, stated that things are in a very bad way in London just now. Thousands of people arc out of work in all quarters of the country, and the office of the New Zealand Agent-General is besieged with inquiries from hundreds of people .day after day. These, mostly men, have not in the majority of cases sufficient money to come out to the colony, and they endeavoured to bargain with the authorities to bring them out and allow them to pay the money back after they have secured work in New Zealand. This: the High Commissioner cannot agree to. The class of men endeavouring to come out. under these terms is said to be good.

Another passenger booked from South Africa gives a doleful account of the position of affairs in that country as far as the working man is concerned.

Mr. March, of the Immigration Department, who was sent out to meet the new, arrivals", expressed himself as well satisfied with them. In his opinion they will make admirable settlers.

Miss Birchell, who came out in charge of 23 domestic servants, stated that she has had a large number of inquiries for her girls since she landed, but she could not entertain a»y of the offers, as the girls had come out under engagement. Nineteen are going to Hastings, and four will remain in Wellington. Asked whether any further batches of domestics would follow, Miss Birchell said she could say nothing definite,- it was a difficult matter to get the right class of domestic to come out to New Zealand in view; of the high wages ruling at Capetown.