PLEASANT BEGINNING

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 16 July 1921, Page 5

PLEASANT BEGINNING

LABOUR (WELCOMES BUAHINB IMMIGRANTS.

"DEAR SIR OR MADAM."

Friendless, in a strange country, on* of the British immigrants who arrived by the Ruahine at Auckland this week and came on to Wellington by train. was the other night carrying his suit-' casek along Lambton Quay. He chanced to inquire of a Dominion representative where he had better stay, and he and the reporter struck up conversation.

"It's a very disheartening welcomo they give you when you land here/* said the Home Country man. "The first thing we saw when we stepped onv to the wharf in Auckland was a poster that had on it in big letters, 'Thousands without work! Thousands without homes!' It was pretty disheartening, I can tell you. You'd thipfe the Government wouldn't allow that, sort of thing. -■ «^ ■'..■•.- ---"I said to a man, on the wharf,'' tfc» stranger continued, " 'is it thousands that are >out of work here ?' He said. 'Yes. and I told him 'There's million* at Home.'"

The new arrival had not mentioned' the only encouragement offered him on. landing. From his overcoat t>ocket he produced a typewritten document with. the remark that similar paperß had been given to the other immigrants who came with him from Home. Th* document read as follows:—

"To arrivals by the s.s. Ruahine. "Dear Sir or Madam, — "In order that you may be fully acquainted with the wages, conditions, and- other matters pertaining to your welfare, you are invited to attend a meeting in the TradesHall, Hobsori street, on Thursday. Jiily 14, at 2.3J p.m. "It is desirable 'that you should be fully acquainted with-the lack/of housing, and the different conditions prevailing iii New Zealand and the Old Land.

"The Government of this country have inaugurated what they term relief work, paying only an average wage, of £3 per week. The Arbitration Court, "which regulates wages in most industries, have declared £4 8» a .living wage. , . "This concerns you, please be u» attendance."