AN ASSISTED IMMIGRANT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 197, 18 August 1909, Page 7

AN ASSISTED IMMIGRANT.

EXPERIENCES IN INVER-

CARGILL,

It has frequently been mentioned at conferences of the Farmers' Union that little, if anything, was being done to induce farm laborers to come to the Dominion, and it would be inferred from the strongly-worded protests that have been made in this connection that when' labor of this class did arrive there would be some plan of action adopted by the various branches so as to find employment for it. But this course does not. appear to be followed, if a\ case that came before a meeting of the Southland H. and C.A. Board is not an isolated one. The secretary (Mr Pryde) reported that a man, his wife and six of a family arrived in Invercargill a short time back from the Old Country, and took up their residence here. They received free passages from an institution in England, and landed on these shores with a capital that did not exceed £2. The breadwinner, who was a farm laborer, searched for suitable work, which he was unable to find. He (the secretary) was informed of the case, and, visiting the house they occupied, found the furniture to consist of two chairs, a table, bed, and three cups and saucers. They

were at the time, living on Swede turnips, and, as the case was an urgent one, he had given help. The man was able and willing to work, and he sent him to Kew, where he assisted in road work and fencing that was being earned out there b\ tlie Board, the wage allowed him be ing 7s a day. He had since obtained other employment. There were some workmen who thought the man should not have been given the work because he ws.s a ne-r cv '■ T'n- t>" !i.°' said that things might be bad here, but they were immeasurably worse in the Old Country. The Farmers' Union had been urging the Government to offer encouragement to laboring men to come to New Zealand, and they might be informed that in such cases they would be expected to make an effort to find employment for them when they arrived. ■-

It was decided to approve of the action of the secretary, who had paid 8s rent, and to write to. the Southland Farmers' Union in terms of the secretary's remarks. — Southland News. . '