A CRY FROM THE WORKING MEM OF ENGLAND.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1879, Page 3

A CRY FROM THE WORKING MEM OF ENGLAND.

For several months past distressing accounts have reached the colonies of the depression in trade in England, and the consequent destitution among the working classes. In this crisis Englishmen naturally turn their eyo3 to tho colonies, and by every mai) numbors of letters are received by publis men and persoas having fiionds in England, inquiring whether the writers would be likely to " better" themselves by coming out here. A letter of this class has been kindly placed at our disposal by a minister of the town, which states the case as regarded from the stand-point of tho suffering working mon at Home very clearly and intelligently, although everyone may not be disposed to agree with the views of the writer as to the causes of the depression. It must be comfe&sed that the question as to whether immigration should be encouraged at the present time or not is a difficult one to decido off-hand. We propose, however, to deal with the subject in a future issue, and in the meantime shall Lo glad to receive any suggestions on the subject from our readers, and especially to hear the views of the working mon of the colony on tha subject. Before giving the letter, we may state that it was written on behalf of a number of working men in the north of England, who were anxious to obtain information as to the prospects offered by the colony. The writer says :— I dare say I need not tell you that we in England are at present pa«sing through a fearful depression in trade. This information will doubtless have reached you long ago. Tha outlook is indeed gloomy in the extreme. Hopes were entertained that tho new year would have brought better times, but so far the. c hopes have proved delusive, and, indeed, there are not wanting signs of even greater depression, especially in this district. Our staple trade is iron ore mining. For some time the price of ore* has been coming down, till now it is extremely low. Wages have in consequence fallen to a very low average. Many of our members are working at this dangerous employment for 2s to 3s per day of 10 hours. Some are working for even less than that, and are only allowed to work four, or in other cases, five daya per week. There are exceptions, but thnt is the general thing. I know of good competent miners who, for 18 months or two year*, have not averaged 8s per day, and these men with families. Tbi* is not a state of things peculiar to any one district, but it is the general cry all over the three kingdoms. At the present moment, in the county of Durham, there are some 4U,000 coal miners out on strike against the outrageous reductions imposed upon them. This strike, if not soon closed, will paralyse the iron trade of this district. In various other parts similar struggles are going on, so that the distress is made doubly severe. The cause of all this is, I fear, not hard to trace ; at least the cause that prolongs such a stite of things is to those that watch the course of events made tolerably plain. During the years of our last Parliament, when the Gladstone Government were in power, everything seemed to prosper. Trade rose to an almost fever height, fostered by s Government that aimed at its country's good, and its country's peace, led on by honest statesmen, whose only fault, if fault it be, was too much work. Under their regime old standing abuses and monopolies were shaken to their very core, and would doubtless ha\ • tottered and fallen. This would not do. Thus all the forces of so-called "harassed interests" combined to slander and hound down the man wbo above all others is capable of leading his country in the path of peace and prosperity. The result of this combination was the placing in power of a man whose object appears to rie the bringing of this land of ours down to the lowest depths of filth and degradation, with all the consequent misery and want. Five years of retrograde Home policy, of " spirited foreign policy," and "scientific frontiers," have done their work. A fruitful crop of wars are appearing. A few more such years, and surely the ambition of even a " Beaconsfield " will be satisfied. With such dark surroundings and gloomy prospects, it is not surprUime: that large numbers are looking to other lands with longing eyes for that which they cannot find here, viz., peace and prosperity. At the present time a great number are leaving this district every week for America, the Cape, Australia, and other parts of the world. The great difficulty experienced is the absence of reliable information as to the most suitable parts to go to There are plenty of emigration agents moving about, inducing people to take their advice ; but the information derived from them is not of a reliable nature. They often tbink more of their own profit, which is secured when once they get people to go out; they therefore paint rather too glowing a picture sometimes. Several of my brethren have some thoughts of New Zealand, and the question arose, where can we get reliable information as to the state of things there, and the prospects for the future ? Some being married men with families it needs careful thought and preparation before embarking in such a sch« me. A youner man may jiossilily go out and see for vim-elf ; but a married man can scarcely do this. Our object, therelore, in writing to you is to ask your kind help in tfiis matter. We knew of none more likely to help us, therefore wo trouble you. Included in those seeking advice there sre practical miuers, blacksmiths, stone masons, and others. These would, doubtless, take their

own work if obtainable, otherwise they would turn to other kinds of work. Of course each one would like to know the prospects of hi- ! own department with you. Some informatioi ateo on the co3t of living would be acceptably ai.d any advice you could give would be gladly received."