A VISITING LONDONER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 501, 7 May 1909, Page 9

A VISITING LONDONER.

VIEWS ON IMMIGRATION, DEFENCE, AND TARIFFS. Mr. Edward ; Collins, a present member of tho'London County Council, who has sat on that body for nine years, is touring the Australasian colonies, and incidentally look-, mg.irito their economic conditions. .Mr. Collins was last year's chairman of the.Stores Committee of the Council, which spent something like £15,000,000. during tho year. The sum of, £10,000,000 came out of revenue, and the remainder out of loan. The council has about 100 miles of eleotrio and about 60 miles of horse- trams...''_. - . In; tho course of an interview with a Dominion 'representative,-'Mr..-Collins mado some interesting remarks on subjects that closely concern colonials. The Need For Population. "I |think," he commenced,' ■ "that ■ I the colonial Governments are making a mistake in their immigration policy. •''You need.population for purposes of 'defence, and my idea is that' the colonies should tako- from England her-surplus .population in the way of ablebodied men, each of whom may be estimated .tinbe worth £150-as an asset, whether.-the man has money'or not. Capital will not come where there is no labour, and, in my opinion,' thowant of agricultural population is keeping capital out'of tho country.:; The Government, should formulate some scheme to bring out' able-bodied: people and placo them -on tho' land,' or, ■ at all events, nave them work: on the land' if necessary.;.'At tho; same 'time, you-have';in, the towns a. number of men seeking; employment who could rapidlyfind employment on tho land -if they were compelled to -go." ;-'. ■'■' ■;'"'■..■'■'. What method of •compulsion;', do you advocate? ■:-'■'■: :• '■-■■ .--.-.

"In; Russia," replied Mr. Collins;.'"they have a'system of registration; where every, man registered (casual labourers) carries,a certificate -in his pocket. His first, .duty;: after going from ono'part of the country''to another, is to.proceed to the brireau.'.'.His' certificate will show where .and how long he was last employed, andgfvo a good indication of his qualifications. If some sort of registration .was. carried-out in .the; colonies many, men now hanging about tho streets would secure regular employment on the land. You have a. wonderful country and a' wonderful climate, capable of supporting millions of sturdy: labourers." ;.,-,: "'- .--'■ ,' • .■■■. /. Chinese; and Japanese. "' I ; has impressed, me in. all'' the cbloriies," 'continued Mr. Collins, "has been the strong desire to keep out .Chinese and' Japanese.', They: will' feel fhis as a! "direct insult .to -them : while- they admit' us.' China' has ; 400,000,000, people, who are, waking up. V Every morning tho'drum' beats in evory village; throughout China, and they, will very much longer bearthe insults which -are cast.upon' them.by the co-. lonials.-iNeither, will.,' Japan. -.-' Besides, this, tbo. men.make good colonists, and.l under-stand.-they grow, most-of the vegetables ponsurried in Australasia.! They are a steady, thrifty, .peaceable people, and if the colonics continuo to refuse to receive them, my opinion: is that in the very hear future they, will; force a way into, this country,,because it is" .impossible, considering: the high, wages 'paid at present, to", keep out for. any .length of timo. 'Moreover,. I think it .would bo to the. benefit "of this country to have them.. Every-£1 of goods for export would bring ready money, and so assist in the develops mant of the Dominion. It 'would be far better that they should: come here in moderate numbers under the British flag, and become naturalised citizens, than at some future time, when ,tho.country may, v be compelled to take' them." ' v

'_;■' /; , The, Defence Problom. . Dealing ■ with the question of ■ defence, Mr. Collins said ■he had discussed the ■ question with members of Governments of the countries' passed; through. .There was,' he sa.id,,..a. -feeling- ■■ ..that.', conscription would' bo 'the proper thing, an dtho -system which would'have' to ibe adopted throughout Austra'lasia. He expressed the opinion that the federation of ': theii Umpire,, was' the only safeguard for tho : colonies', as well as the 'Mother Country. 'England ■is taxed to an almost, unbearable extent for-the upkeep of her -enormous navy aiid army, and he was glad to.note the'desire of -the colonies to. assist '■:in this, burden/- 1 He was especially .pleased.to 'see-that 'New'Zeaalnd.had come forward and offered two Droadnoughts, if necessary. ■' Germany could', only be-aiming at the', mastery ■of the-'sea, and,' of course, the future .ofi'the colonies'depended'entirely on the control of-.the. seal .',.■ 'vV Free Trade versus Protection.- .'-•'' Mr. Collins mentioned that four-fifths of the' workless 1 in ;tho ''English'. : towns : had drifted there' oh' account of the agricultural depression caused through free trade, which, he.held, was gradually'■'driving the life blood out of the /country.; -."I -hope," he .said, : "that during the next' year ...the .present Government will be dismissed, and'a Govern-' melitput in its place, which wil lcarry "tariff 'reform, a- benefit to the, whole-Empire.'?