EMIGRATION TO THE COLONIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9139, 11 February 1910, Page 2

EMIGRATION TO THE COLONIES.

COUNT MORNER'S WARNING. (Bx Electric Telegbaph—Copyright.) (Peb Pbess Association.) SYDNEY, Feb. 10. The Danish Consul and Count Morner, Consul for Sweden, both state that neither Denmark nor Sweden can spare agricultural emigrants, though they do send emigrants of other classes and find it difficult to place them. Both oftici; .l warnings were duo to Count Morncr sending a clipping from a 'newspaper of the speech by Mr Holman, vice-ehair-mci.il of the New SoutK Wales Parliamentary Labour Party, upon the immigration policy. The speech was made at Newcastle in November last. The Danish Consul, on being asked as to why his Government had moved, thought that the announcement made by it wjis due to a statement published in the Swedish papers. In a letter sent to his Government in May last, he stated that "with the exception of domestic servants and agricultural labourers, the conditions hero are such that the Consulate absolutely advises against emigration. Danish women willing to work as servants can always find something to do. The pay is good, but the work hard. As for male emigrants, only agricultural labourers who can stand hard work arc wanted. For commercial people or people without a trade Australia is the lust place to come to. Businesses and offices are all filled by the country's own people, and it is most difficult for foreigners to find employment." Coi'.nt Morner states that most_ of the Swedes who come hero arc looking for city positions. He has tho greatest difficulty finding work for them, and some had been sent off to America. Out of a large number who had applied to him ho had only found work for three, and these were compelled to take appointments in menial positions below their accomplishments. People had been deceived by colour do rose schemes, and the Government would not help them because the men were not assisted immigrants. Sometimes work offered up country, but lie was asked to pay the immigrants' fare there. It \vould be a good thing if the Government gave free passes to such as founS work in the country, or even lent money for tho fares. Many of these men spent everything they had in getting here, and it was easy to say there was plenty of work. The best way to prove it was for tho Government or private persons to help him to find work for these immigrants. A farmer with money could get on splendidly here, but so ne could in Sweden. He had sent a cutting of Mr Holman's speech with a requeet that it be handed to tho Swedish Anti-Emi-gration Societv. MELBOURNE, Feb. 10.

Mr Best, Minister for Customs, denies that there is any need for Count Morner or anybody else to warn intending emigrants against proceeding to Australia or New Zealand. There is ample room and plenty of opportunities for suitable men to make a living in Australia, particularly as agriculturists. There is room not for hundreds but for thousands of tho right type.

The State Permier did not think the warning applied to Victoria. Probably the Consul had New South Wales in view. Certain men no doubt found a difficulty in getting work when they came, but they would probably have the same difficulty in any other part of the world. He knew of no class who made more successful colonists than the Norwegians and Swedes, as they were willing to go into the bush and .do the hard pioneering work.

SYDNEY, Feb. 10,

The Herald says: Count Morner must not be surprised if his advertisement of Australia as a good land to stay away from leads to some plain speaking. Probably he has a doubt as to tho policy that the Swedish Consul should pursue, and he may declare that he is responsible to nobody but his Government, but there are such things as truth, which every man in public or private life is expected to recognise and observe. To send to Sweden a copy of a speech by Mr Holman, M.L.A., attacking the Government of this State, and to let it be inferred that it contains tho whole truth about Australia is surely to forget the alphabet of fair play and honest dealing. Count Morner is not an ignoramus. He has lived among us long enough to understand something of our politics, and ho must know very well that Mr Holman, in his capacity of Deputy-Leader of the Opposition, does not 'make .speeches that arc dispassionate and perfectly balanced. To send to Sweden the statements of members of the Labour Opposition, without at least off-setting them by the Government defence. is either carelessness or deception. Wo can quite understand the Consul's point of view. He does not want the agriculturists to leave Sweden because they are as badly needed there as here. To help his Government in keeping this desirable "class at homo he has thought it fair to give Australia a bad name', though the Commonwealth is quite good enough ..to provide him with a vocation and .something in the shape of a pedestal.