DISTINGUISHED ITALIAN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 2

DISTINGUISHED ITALIAN.

DELIGHTED WITH NEW ZEALAND. A TALK ABOUT ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS. Tho Rev. Joseph Capra, an emissary from tho Italian Government and various philanthropic societies, and the first Italian priest to tako a university diploma as a doctor of science and agriculture, is in Wellington this week. Ho is examining New Zealand to learn what attractions it has for immigrants from his own beloved country, and ho seems to havo taken a liking to this young country of ours. Hr. Capra is brimful of appreciation of tho kindnesses ho has received from the New Zealand Government, the Department of Agriculture, tho Tourist Department, the Director and managers of Experiment Farms, and other institutions ho has visited, and tlioso of the people of Now Zealand who havo extended tho courtesies ho has experienced everywhere. Being a true Italian, he has not failed to notice these little attentions, and lie is going to say nice things to his people at Homo about us. "My mission," he said to a Dominion' reporter yesterday, "is to study the conditions of tho people here, and to learn if they aro suitable for immigrants from my country." Is your Government desirous of sending immigrants out? "Oh, my Government does not like to send immigrants, bocauso'tho responsibility is too great. But we have tho II Commissariato dell'. Emigraziono of Rome, and other private philanthropic societies which collect information about foreign countries and givo advice to thoso who wish to come out." Why does your Government dislike tho responsibility? "Men may change. They may be willing when they set out, but they may have lost their willingness alter they arrive, and they might then say to your Government and my Government, 'You brought us here: you must feed us.' But if they come of their own desire, then they know that if they do not work they may not oat. They will know that if they improve, their land the Government will compensate them, but if thoy do not improve it tho Government will not only not compensate them, but will make thorn pay taxes. Then they would apply themselves to converting your grazing land, your swamps, aud your forests into lengths of vineyards." Mostly vineyards? "Also sheep 'farms and dairy farms and orchards. My people have strong arms and much skill. They would bo good for your country. My people aro trained in the very work that would suit Now Zealand; they are skilled in converting rough land into fertile gardens. Thoy have to do that in Italy, for wo havo not enough soil there. Thoy till the land that is. covered with rocks, drilling the rocks, building walls with them, and filling the cavities with soil in order .that they may grow plants there. There is'much land in New Zealand that you have not enough worked." But you saw somo good crops in Canterbury?

"Yos. Especially at Longbeach the crops were splendid. I was very much pleased with tho richness of tho Now Zealand soils." Would your immigrants prove good settlers and good neighbours? "I am sure that they would. They would bo very valuable to your people. You havo never yet had Italian fanners como to i?ew Zealand. A very few Italians came out some yonrs ago, but they were not farmers. They sottled mostly-in. the towns,. Yet a few who went to farms are, in sonic instances now, often consulted by the neighbouring farmers. So if untrained Italians can become good farmers, what must the trained farmers bo able to do?" i There are numerous Austrians bore. • ■•Yes, and Grcoks; and because'they speak Italian they aro often supposed 'to be Italians."

Does your country approve of emigration ? ;"Wo must. Our country is growing. In the census of 1901 our peoplo numbered 31} millions, but in tho census of 1006 they had increased to 33 millions." Do you anticipate that a party of Italian farmers will bo organised to take up a block of New Zealand land and form a settlement i , "I cannot speak officially on that matter, but my own private opinion is that it migit not bo good that they should form an Italian village. It might 'be bettor that they should bo distributed—better for you and better for thorn. AVo might not iiko broign villages established in Italy, and I thmk_ you might take the samo view. But tins is only my private opinion. All emigrants aro gooc! peoplo nnd havo passports." Is that n guarantee? 'w os, y° T tho glory antl '"'onour of Italy ind for the good of the country they adopt ve do not allow unsuitable persons to Icavo Italy.

' Is not that merely on account of military service ? "No, it applies after that service is completed. Italy guarantees its emigrants. Wo wish them to remember, of course, their iiativo land, but wo wish them to •omember also that when they como to New Scalane! they become New Zealamlers." lo whom will you report when you reach Home r "To the- Government, and to the emiora.ion societies; and I shall also write a rcwrd of my travels to these two newspapers m ll n So '° C, Th ? Suil ")' ilt Milil ". and 11 Comoro d'ltalia," at Home. Italians ■ylio have visited New Zealand have told ne that they loved this country, and New Soalanders and Australians have also been to kind as to speak nicely of Italy. Wo vould like to havo closer relationship with Now Zealand and Australia, and wo wish .-on would help toward that. Your countries ire liko ours in climate, in geography, in ;he crops you grow, and in other ways:' that s why our people would make such good wttlers hero. I havo been told tho Germans lave made good settlers, but tho Italian loncjitions aro even more liko yours." Wero you interested in our' experiment arms? "Very much. I visited Waerenga, Rimnira, and Moumahaki, and was very pleased vith tho work that is being done there, it Waerenga they have shown wliat can v? done on poor land, and that is very important. The magnificent display of grapevinos pleased mo very much. They arclovely. They recalled to mo tho vineyards if Tuscany. At Huakura they have ro.lyemed a swamp and developed excellent Hooks of sheep and herds of cattle; and at Moumahaki they aro experimenting with :rops and other kinds of farming. I think Hie system of having different work done m tho different farms is a good one. Tho settlers must bo deriving great benefit." Where will you visit next:' 1 "I shall leave for New South Wales either his week or (via Auckland) next week. ToiioiTow 1 am to moot Sir Joseph Ward •our Primo Minister." ' Dr. Capra concluded with expressions of i cordial desire that many AW Zealamlcrs MHlld visit Italy. His country had not lich a splendid institution as tlio Now Zea>nd Tourist Department, which made evervod.v envy New Zealand, but tho Societa pel [oyimento dei Forestieri would gladly n-' ve isistanco to tourists. ° Dr. Capra is tho lirst Italian to visit New Miami officially, and ho is proud of this hinur. Ho is the guest of Archbishop Hod «od,