THE DALMATIAN SETTLER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 14

THE DALMATIAN SETTLER.

(To the Editor.) Sir.—As a Yugoslav's wife I find it impossible to let Charles Laurin go unanswered. His letter is absolute rubbish. I am a Xew Zealand girl of English parentage, and was married during the war to a Dalmatian who served this country from start to finish of the war, so should know something of the subject. Dalmatians are working on public works, I know, but only till they get enough cash together to buy some piece of ground to start a hums in this new country. [ know many Xew Zealand girls who have married these men. but I know of none yet who has seriously repented. Of that 15.000 of which Charles- Laurin speaks, many were born here and to-day take their place with Xew Zealanders in the schools and in business and farming life. A few may be failures, but very few. They dress well. live well, and" wt>rk well. Their money, for the most part, goes back into New, Zealand for land and farming material. They are a clean living race, and if they prefer to work as labourers it cannot be said they are living on their wits. Let Charles Laurin table these facta of his. I am only writing from what I have seen in the last ten years. I am not suggesting that they be "given jobs before other men, but let 'all comers here, as long as , their characters, are -e>!ean, get a fair chance. Some people are as bitter at the "Homies," but the least one can do . after they encourage a man to come to this country is to treat him as a man and give him his chance to make good as best he can. — r am- etc., FAIR PLAY.