IMMIGRATION AND RETRENCHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 9

IMMIGRATION AND RETRENCHMENT.

Sir,—Thero lias been so much talk about tho present Government's methods of Administration m this young Dominion that I think in writing this letter I am expressing tho opinion of tho majority. This country is too young yet for an infills of immigrants. It is absolutely wrong, immoral for the Ward Government to encourage immigration from England to the.extent that .is going on at the present time. Sir J. G. Ward is causing, by his methods of Administration,, pauperism throughout New Zealand. The labour market is glutted throughout, It is absurd to say that farmers corniot get sufficient help. The papers are full of advertisements of young farm hands seeking employment without success. In many cases the farmers aro too much taxed, what With excessive-rating of tb.6 land to pay for excessivo borrowing, and silly regulations. As an example take tho now dairy regulations, which tho Ward Government has been endeavouring to force on the farmer.

Tho coilhtry is too young yet for all this hurried advancement. It is only dono for one purpose, viz., to further tho interests of 0116 or two. The Government have no right whatever-to encourage the immigration into the Dominon, and thereby make it very difficult for young New Zoalanders to procure a situation. It Seems almost impossible at present for a young man to obtain a position in any capacity. Offices arc full to tho utmost, and the wages low, consequent on vhe overflow of young men from England, wlio nro only too glad to work for their bare living, let '.ilono put a littlo by. A clerk has no chanco of marrying under existing conditions, or putting a little of his earnings by for matrimonial purposes for many years to come. Yet thero is talk about taxing bachelors. Why? h As fnr as I can sod it does not matter what becomes of tho immigrants, when onco they havo landed, as long as they swell tho population, which seems to be tho main object of tho Ward Gowrnmont, porhnps so-that money may bo more readily obtained from the Homo market. Iho larger tho population. I supposes, the cheaper tho monoy is obtained. I know of many cases of fathers who have gone to the expense of educating their sons and havo to keep them at home doing nothing, becauso they aro not able to procuro a position in any capacity, either a trado or dfflco work, Surely it is titno Mr. Masscy took tho matter up, and I sincerely hopo that at tho coming session Mr. Massey will move a "no-coniidenco motion" in tho present Government, oarry tho motion, mid oust Iho Ward Government from 'the control of our Dominion's ufffiirs, ' which they, nro totally Unfit to control. . .

Tho retrenchment'scheme is • reasonable enough, but the' Government arc to blamo for allowing tho present stato of things to'occur.' It scouia to mi uiiud that this overstocking

has been going on for tho ono pufposo of securing tho present Government power; to secure the votes of the Government employees, who aro hound to vote for tho Ward Government or lose their billets. Could not tho Opposition party doviso a way of stopping this influx into tho Dominion, by sending a capablo man Homo to adviso tho people there, to beware of false utterances, and encouragement which they receive, nnd that they would .bo far better off to remain whero they are. Another thing, we aro taxed to pay for this assisted immigration which is doing such harm. The Government aro riot tho workingman's friend, as they say they arc, but on the contrary tho workingman's enemy. Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for valuable space,—i am, etc., B. H. WILLS. Tarauaki, April 3, 1909. !