EMIGRANTS TO CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17060, 3 February 1921, Page 5

EMIGRANTS TO CANTERBURY.

A LEAD TO PBOGRESS LEAGUE. A letter was read by the organiser at the meeting of the Canterbury Progress League last night from Mx E. J. Bell, librarian, Christdhurch. The writer suggested that the League should walce up and advertise Christchurch to prospective emigrants.*. Mr Bell wrote that he was much interested in the report of the discussion dealing witfa immigration which tooK. place at the last meeting of the progress League. Nine years ago, before he came out to Now Zealand,,the only information he could obtain m England, about New Zealand was a printed pamphlet issued by the. Emigration Department, and much of the information! contained therein was misleading, ihe writer added: "Literature must reacta the Home folks before they book to their destination. It must be remembered that many of the new arrivals have seldom the money to pay to other ports of New Zealand than Auckland or "Wellington, but if they heard something of Canterbury .prior to booking in London, they woula then be prepared and book to Lyttelton, whien should be clearly pointed out is the port ot Christchurch. My idea m writing these few notes is to submit a sugges-, tion for the consideration of the l*ro<rress League executive." The suggestion was that literature relating to Canterbury should be forwarded tothe chief public libraries throughout England. The libraries would give it a prominent place in their collections, and by this means many people would get the information regmred. Most English libraries were well used by the people. During tlhtj nast few months a number of new arrivals had called at the Christchurch Public Library seeking information. Perhaps the Progress League would consider the question of publishing a handbook to Christchurcili and Canterbury, similar to those published by nearly every important town in England. A list of the chief public libraries in England was attached. Mr O. T. Aschman enquired what in would cost to place posters advertising Caateriaae ia the main, manufnrtmnng

centres in Great Britain. He thought/ : it would be well to spend £IOO in that direction. i The chairman (Mr A. G. Henderson) ! said that most of the emigrants comiiiz out appeared to liave come from rural districts. An engineer who recently "came out" had told him that if the • people had any conception of the advan- i tages of living in Christehurchj and of. the class of workers' homo 3, there would ; absolutely be a rush to this city. i A member suggested that the assist- I ance of the Government should be' sought, but Mr Henderson said that the Government would not do anything in the way of inducing emigration to : a particular province: the Government'!-, activities would be in the nature of ; national immigration. j x Mr J. A. Flesher moved that the or- , ganiser write to the High Commissioner, asking an estimate of the cost of advertising Canterbury as a suitable place for emigrants. j This motion was carried unanimouslv. i