"JUST COME!"

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 2

"JUST COME!"

IMR A. P. HERBERT'S CALL. I j MEN FOR DOMINIONS. (ritost OtTB OWH CORBZSPONDEXT.) LONDON, January 15. Mr A. P. Herbert continues in the '"Daily Telegraph" his series, of "The Happy Isles" articles, inspired by. his recent tour with the Empire Press Delegation. His contribution, "More Immigration," appears he has read the series of booklets authoritatively issued. He finds them to be adinirably done, full of information, clearly and concisely expressed. But what is their effect, he wonders, upon the mind of the .. vcrage man who is thinking of settling overseas? • "I have just been reading the general handbook) and trying to put myself into the mind of that man (writes Mr Herbert). I imagined myself, not the young gentleman with a little capital, w ho fancies the free, open-air life, and would rather emigrate than go into an office, but a decent, sober, industrious artisan, skilled more or less in some trade, born and bred in a town, anxious to work, but unable, through no fault of his own, to get work, and sick to death of kicking his heels at street corners for months, or possibly years. I said to myself (in that capacity): 'The truth is, things have changed, and more or less serious unemployment is going to be permanent. I'm sick of this; I can't marry; I'm losing my health, and the habit of work. Let's have a look at these Dominions they talk about!' I remembered the pictures in the great shop windows in the Strand, the wide sunny spaces, the sturdy men, the enormous rosy apples. And with new hopes I opened the book and began at Canada. "And I confess I was chilled. The first thing I read was: 'The Maritime Provinces afford opportunities to men with capital or a small regular in come. . . .' "I passed on to Australia, and here was a paragraph which I marked as hopeful: 'The immediate prospect is good for land settlers, and for all experienced rural workers, who should be able to obtain employment and good pay. For men between 19 and 30, who have no rural experience, but are accustomed to manual labour, especially if they have handled horses, there is opportunity in farm employment, provided that "t'\"v are prepared to accept a reduced which would probably not be let- r,han £1 a week and maintenance, until they became competent.' 'All persons selected by the official representatives of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom for agricultural work in Australia are guaranteed work on arrival. They must, however, be able and willing to undertake such work as forest clearing, fencing, road-making, and other bush work.' New Zealand's Hopeful Note. "Something definite at last. "I passed on to New Zealand, Here, apart from the usual farming opportunities for 'men with some capital, 'there are generally numerous openings for all-round farm workers and good hard-working men and boys can find work as agricultural _ labourers throughout the year, especially during the summer months.' "At present there is no great demand for mechanics. :A capable man should, however, be able to find worn. ... Fully qualified plumbers, carpenteirs, bricklayers, and plasterers Are particularly -required. There are also openings for' general labourersthroughout the year, except in the, seaports or other towns, and for a. l limited number -of experienced miners/ : "A more hopeful note. there, but - unless I am a plumber, etc., nothing to thrill'-me'. Now this , handbook does right to he cautious, for much harm is done by the too gaudy picture; but it must be confessed that my hypothetical townsman is going to .put it down with impressions considerably less glowing than those with which he read the leaflet entitled 'Australia Calls You.' 'Come to the Sunny South, etc. The general effect is quite clear and accurate, though perhaps a thought too cautious. Speaking very generally, he is not wanted anywhere, except in the country There are too many people in Australian towns already. But in the country he will - certainly find work, good wages, and a -healthy life among men like himself; and he would be well advised to go and get it. But what _ real steps are we taking to persuade him of this? And. come to that, is this timid whisper "the only message that, officially, the Empire can give him? I do not i believe it v Australia's Urgent Need. "Now this man represents the great bulk of those of our countrymen (apart from boys) who are likely to emigrate. But one wonders if even now this simple truth is appreciated in Australia. The 'White Australia ideal is a religion_ with them; they want more population, and they want it to be predominantly British. No one who talks with them can doubt the sincerity and urgency of that desire. Their need is critical, for they cannot ever remain with impunity a tiny dog in that enormous manger, which lias fixed upon it so many envious eyes. Our own need is as urgent. For every man that we send her is not only one less mouth at home, but a new market for our dwindling exports. But if Australia is to be peopled by 'experienced farmers' from England, or Englishmen 'with capital of £2OO-300,' then she will remain uninhabited' till the day of doom. r Boldness and Drive. "What practical conclusion is to be drawn from all this, is, I agree, a matter of no little difficulty. And I am, 1 know, the usual impatient, impractical, amateur critic; though, indeed, I do not undervalue what is being done. But to such an outsider, who has seen the great visions suspended over these Dominions, it does seem a little niggling and half-hearted. This task deserves the same unsparing boldness and drive, the same continuous, concentrated campaigning with which |we taught shopwalkers to use *bayo- | nets, and sent drapers to the uttermost parts of the earth to throw bombs. But we are all talking about Eussia instead of Canada and Austrai lia; and six days in the week we are messing about with people in Europe who do not like us and do not want our goods; while the Australians are thinking too much about 'capital' and 'experience,'. and the unions, instead of saying constantly to themselves, 'This continent is undeveloped, and so long as. it is undeveloped it is in danger. Cost what it may we must have the men.' We are so rich in men and money and they arc so rich in Nature's capital that between us we should surely be able to write in that handbook (something more after this style: " 'Whoever you are and whatever your present trade: if you hare health and courage, are honest and willing, the British Government will send you to Australia, and the Australian Governments will find you a living. mind about capital, experience, money, or training. All this will be provided. Just come.' I fancy it would be cheaper than the 'dole.' And at least nothing that is spent upon Empire settlement will be unproductive"