4-8 Others See Us.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 112, 12 May 1900, Page 3 (Supplement)

4-8 Others See Us.

NEW ZEALAND THROUGH A SO CIALISrS SPECTACLES. It "will be remembered that some months ago some eulogistic references to New Zealand Avere made by a visitor, Mr. WilJam Ranstead, in a series of letters to the organ of the English Socialists, the Clarion, published in Lor.don. Mr. Ranstead, who, as a gentleman of means, has spent a great deal or his life ia travelling in many parts of the world, was so pleased with the condition, of affairs and the freedom o' social life i« our colony that he decided tc bring his family out Jrom, Englard and settle in a home near Christchurc >. He is at present in the Old Coumi/ making arrangements for t-he trarteicr <•-' his household goods. In a late budget of "Notes on New Zealand " in tii 2 Clarion, Aliv Ranstead, aanong other raar ters makes tlie following references to the colony : — "I would strongly advise Englishmen not to go to the Transvaal alter the war. I am writing seriously, from a personal knowledge of the country. For a pound or two more a man can come on to New Zealand, the gean of the Pacific. Here he will find higher wage, better conditions, and a climate which is incomparably superior to that of Johannesburg. The White Star Company are running some splendid steamers from Liverpool and London to -Melbourne and Sydney. They carry third-class passengers only, and I've been assured by those who know that the accommodation and food are very good. The fare is only £15, I think. A couple of pounds mors will carry a man to Wellington. His total expenses Irona -Liverpool or London to Wellington will be Well under £20. Or he can come direct to Wellington via the Cape and Hobart by the Shaw-Savill Line or the New Zealand Shipping Company for about the same money, but these sleamei-s only sail from London. Of course, the more money»he can briiig witth him the better. He should have enough to carry him over a few months while he is looking round. "In my last letter I showed that Ne-n Zealand shearers had ceased to tramp Australia looking for work. A large squatter with whom my friend Worrall stayed on his way to Mount Cook complained bitterly of the land legislation <A the Seddon Government. Instead of having a crowd of men at shenriug limd asking for work on the squatters terms, he finds it difficult to get men on their o\\ n. My friend asked the reason. 'Why,' said the squatter, 'this Radical Government is buying out the big runholders, splitting up the land into 200 to 600 acre forms, and actually helping work-ing men to make a start by advancing them cash. These men are their own masters, and have no need to take on outside work. Before the Government took over the Cheviot Estate there were only aboutt 70 men employed by the squatter as shepherds and rouseabouts. Now there are over 2000 peopple living on the same Hand, and they are practically the landowners, because the Government lease of 999 years is the same thing as a freehold. This colony is a long way from Europe, and we have no surplus labourers here to compete with each other. The working men are getting so independent, an employer has to give way to them in almost everything. The country, of course, is going to the dogs.' "Lei working men consider thesa things. This country, of the same area as Britain, 1 has a totaC population equal to that of Liverpool. The right kind of men are welcomed here. The land .is of wonderful fertility, ar>d is -Waiting for close settlement, pnd taeie is a Government ir power which is doing nil it can to help them. "I love England as pafvcnutcly os anyone, but that does not mako n;2 Wind to the beauties of another cuunlr . And I'm not so sure Ilia'- it i 1 - « r country. It seems to mo tlia-' '.. n.L: '* people have got precious little clv.v ■ of getting hold of it ns lh;nj:> urj, . ;l even if we couIJ mould llite i-2nirl.'""t <» our heart's desire, it is such a little L.fc

ii a pbee, there's not elbow room here 'lor f\iui a eun\d of us." Complimentary reference is made in 'the loiter to the poetry of an ex-\Vei-■lingtoman, Mr. A. 11. Adams, whose ■poCiU "U.'iorikind," is quoted in full. Concluding, tho writer says: — "I hold no brief for Now Zealand. I hive no interest in inducing people to go and live there. It was suggested to mo that my experiences would be interesting to others, and I've just written what I have seen. I've not knowingly written a word of exaggeration. I'm in lovo with New Zealand. It is the :i;!cst place I- ever put my foot in, and I lliink it offers, better opportunities for .i hnppy, healthy, life than does the England of to-day. Hence my determinauun to return there with my fain'V •;'id rive my boys a chance they oou'dut ia« at home. J don't want to induce any jody e!<-e to go. I take no vesponsibil- - y of thai, kmd, but I'm waling to give : iiybody the benefit of what information I've gathered from reading and obsi a r vition. One class o r emigrants is .vintid ihcre. Strong, active men are in demand, and the Labour Department has assured me thai there'll be no difficu'ty in finding Avork for them. If a party of