WOMEN AS EMIGRANTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 62, 14 March 1906, Page 1

WOMEN AS EMIGRANTS.

CANADA'S TEMPTING BAIT OF GOOD WAGES AND MATRIMONY

The domestic servant problem is difficult enough in England already, as every householder knows. It is likely to become infinitely harder of solution if the Salvation Army continues tp hire actual and possible English housemaids and cooks'to Canada \vith the tempting bait of good wages and almost certain matrimony in the near future.

This is the crux of the message which Commissioner Coombs, who recently arrived at the Salvation Army headquarters in London from the Dominion, has to deliver. Ligb,theartedly he told a "Daily Chronicle" representative that the Army would have no difficulty in '• placing" ten thousand servant girls during the present year in Canada. These, in addition to the 10,000 emigrants who are booked to leave England's shore.s for the West between March Ist and the fall of the year.

Commander Coombs draws an alluring picture of the career of the ablebodied young woman who emigrates. She is snapped up directly she lands at higher wages than she can command at Home. If she goes to the right place, and the Army makes it a particular care that she shall go to no other, she shortly becomes one of. the family. A month or so later the farmer's brother or cousin comes on a visit, and soon afterwards there, is a wedding and a vacancy ipi- another servant.

So, after all, perhaps the Canadian employer is not so greatly better off than his compeer at Home. It would not affect the result much if the Salvation Army frankly embarked upon the matrimonial agency business; they might safely add this responsibility to. their innumerable othpr good works, and there is no one who would question their good faith if they did. As to the general scheme of emigration which the Army has organised, that is only limited by the funds at their disposal. So far it has been an amazing success. The secret of success is,_ as Commissioner Coombs disclases it, that you must have a prepared place for a prepared person. There is room, according to Commissioner Coombs, in Canada for every man who is willing and able to work with his bands, who is, abort) all, willing to learn.

Mr W. T. R. Preston, the Commissioner of Emigration for Canada, has just returned from a trip to the Domjnion. In conversation with a representative of "The Daily Chronicle" he remarked upon the threatened active competition of Australia in emigration work in Great Britain, and said it had not caused any undue anxiety in Canada j in'fact, the" Australians, bo said, would bp heartily welcomed by Canada as a competitor for, British emigrants, and the most cordial and friendly welcome would be given by himself, as Canadian Commissioner of Emigration to the representatives of Australia,