A REPLY TO PROTECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1894, Page 4

A REPLY TO PROTECTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib- It is refreshing, intensely refreshing, to hear tho ory of " Protection " in to-night's issue of yonr valuable paper, especially if you happen to be one of those returned — mind, I say, returned — from Australia during the past few months. Bnt, Sir, may I be permitted to remind your correspondent that all those coming over from Australia are not Australians ; many aro New Zealanders returning. A year or two ago, when things were so baa here, and the " land boom " and what not, was in full swing in Victoria and other parts of Australia, New Zealand landed on the shores of Australia her thousands in quite as destitute a state as those now returning ; and yet Australia refused not to receive them. Should New Zealand refuse to receive baok her own? I think not. Your correspondent, doubtless, would be one of the first to leave this conntry, if ho were hard up and could get nothing to do, if he saw a prospect of bettoring himself in another colony. A more selfish and dog-in-the-manger policy than that of yonr correspondent cannot be conceived. Suoh a polioy would be a disgrace to any British colony, and such an one as I hope New Zealand will never engage in. For myself, I landed in New Zealand with more money than I left it with, and obtained employment the first week I arrived. I therefore consider myself under no debt to any country. But, perhaps " Protection " wonld like to make me give up my ill-gotten (P) work, and ship me off back again to Victoria from whence I came. " Live and let live " is a good policy in these days, and every British subject has a right to go whm-o he pleases in British dominions, providid he keeps the law, for Uritous never shall bo slaves, as " Protection" would ljke to make them— all but himself. Apologising for occupying your valuable space, I am, <&c. Fair Plat. Wellington, 23rd February, 1891.