A "NEW CHUM’S" IMPRESSIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 5592, 9 February 1881, Page 2

A "NEW CHUM’S" IMPRESSIONS.

TO TTTE ETTTOR. Sin, I nothing that subsequently happens to the so-called “new ohum ” affords him greater earpriße than his first reali.ing (ho prejudices, nmenniing to antagonism, he has to c intend against on the ground solely of being a “new chum,” If he i. a reasonable man ho will make allowances for Ibis, renumbering the many dishonest, ol jocticnable, and even dangerous characters \hst resort to new countries. But after patient waiting, and giving by his lifo and conduct ample satisfaction to remove all eucn doubts, be finds himself met by further resistance from the earlier colonists, who take up a proprietary tooe ar regards existing mercantile and other institutions, and monopolise the appointments, regardless of, or at least making secondary, the consideration (>f qualification. He finds large institu* lions, etc,, I'Ubordinating their interests (according to tfaolr own statement*) so that resl'y, as regards the staff employed, they appear as “nurseries” or convalescent homes. “New Chum” sees no remedy for himself her i , and if he is not too thoroughly disheartened ho becomes curious to see the result work itself out in those cases that come under hia notice. If a “ new chum ” happens to be a clerk ho is blamed to an extent as to appear undeseivir.g of ary consideration for his imprudence in coming to New Zealand, where clerks arc not wanted, and he gets this repeatedly pointed out in New Zealand { papers. But 1 deny that this is either the only, or indeed the reasonable, conjecture for 1 him to b&vc formed in England of a country j obtaining the prominence in tho London S market by loans, irasorts, exports, eta., eta., j as enjoyed by New Zealand ; a fair description of Dunedin alone would imply eon- | tiderabla commercial life. I make no comment on the sensational reports, eta„ diffused, only to say that New Zealand “brag” could not be measured before experienced. la it not rather upbraiding for a community utterly dependant on foreign capital, labor, and markets, to accept all tho advantages (and to New Z aland bow liberally have they been afforded !) and ory quits as to the consequent disadvantage of a few clerks believing their reports too faithfully or flatteringly? The difference between olei k and principal is only in degree, not in c.’fss, and what country has appealed more snocecefnliy to that class than New Zealand ? Wa hear a good deal on the side of the rising colonist, who, I suppose, in New Zealand is now first making his debut. I appeal, Mr Editor, to your fairness to submit these few words for the other side. Meantime the ultimate state of mind and j dafe-rmicatinn of “ New Cham" remains j problematical, but under the rule shown it |fa bound to move in the direction of i “ antagonism " and “ detection,” for both of I which there is tome scope. Hoping, hewI over, kinder counsels will prevail—l am, etc., I A Mercantile Clerk, j Sani pi.nr et sans reprdche, j Dunedin, h\hiu.»ry I).