IMMIGRATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14983, 1 May 1909, Page 8

IMMIGRATION.

We are in close sympathy with tho opinions expressed in >< letter which we publish Giis morning irom wa Sutherland and Sir Clement KinlochCooke the president and chairman of the. Settlers’ Information League. Tho League was formed in London, a short time ago “ to encourage and, where possible” assist the. emigration of suitable and desirable persons from the United Kingdom to the. British colonies.” Tho founders of the League nro evidently alive to the fact, which has been obvious to people in this part of the world for a long time, that while large numbers of men and women leave Britain every year to settle in foreign countries, foreigners are largely represented among tho fresh arrivals in th© Empire’s colonial possessions. There is no doubt that tho organisation has entered a field where there is much useful work to ho done. The weak point in emigration schemes connected specially with New Zealand has been found in the ignorance of the promoters at Homo Of the conditions prevailing out here. These well-meaning people often have had an utterly fallacious conception of the country’s requirements and have frequently done more harm than good to the cause they, have had at heart. The Settlers’ Information League should bear in mind that New Zealand is not an oveiyiuan’s paradise. H is a country where all are expected to work, and where many have to work exceedingly hard. Tho emigrant', if lie expects to he welcomed here, must have good physique, robust health, a determination to do.al with difficulties, and an aptitude to turn his hand to many kinds of manual labour. There is plenty of room for men of that typo in New Zealand, and if tho League sends them to these shores with, a clear knowledge of what they have to

oxpect, it will bo rendering a good service to the men and to tho country. It soema to bo going to work in tho right way. Members of tho League in th© United Kingdom will undertake to distribute information supplied from the headquarters, and to refer to tho committee applicants who appear likely to make suitable emigrants; while members in the colonics will undertake “to stretch out tho hand of good fellowship to the emigrants on thenarrival, to give them useful information, and, where possible, to keep in touch with thorn during tho first six months of their residence in the colony.” Tho founders of the League are not blind to tho responsibilities they aro undertaking, and wo beliov© there aro many people in New Zealand who wiir bo glad to co-operate with them in carrying their scheme to a successful issue.