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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 244, 14 October 1891, Page 2

The Trades Council of Sydney has addresssed a letter to the various Trades Councils throughout Australia with a view of securing united action against the colonisation scheme of General Booth, should he attempt to introduce it into the colonies. General Booth has attempted a most meritorious work. His first appeal wag for raonoy, now it is for land. Australia however does not welcome his colonisation scheme, It has too many poor of its own to want more. New Zealand will hardly give his scheme a warmer reception. The emigration is at present larger than the immigration, showing that there is not enough work for those now in the colony. It is not likely, however, that the General will ask New Zealand for land. The Trades OoudcU in Sydney has taken the bull by the horns. It does not know as yet if the General means to send out any of his pauper hordes. It does know, however, that were a settlement to be started in the neighbourhood of Sydney, or anywhere in New South Wales, it would seriously affect the labour market. It is no doubt for this reason that the Sydney Trades Council is inviting the other Councils throughout Australia to take united action against the scheme. There is nob the slightest doubt that the Salvation Army is trying to do a great work, but tho General is attempting far too much. The chances are that a greab number of those whom he is striving to assist will turn out to be mere loafers, and would be a curse rathor than a blessing to any community. The General will soon visit New Zealand, and it will bo rather interesting to learn what he has to say on the matter. After the enthusiastic ■welcome accorded him, this cold reception of his scheme will no doubt be very galling. From a telegram received from Sydney this morning it will bo seen that the Premier, iu reply to a question asked him in the House" of Assembly as to whether the Government had made any agreement to aid General Booth) in his colonisation scheme, or whether the Government would take steps to prevent the introduction of pauper labour, said that without directly answering he might say that he had hbd a conversation with the leader of the Salvation Army on his arrival in Sydney, but that nothing had been said about aiding the scheme, nor with regard to tho paupers. The telegram finishes with the following oracular sentence, which may be interpreted in many ways :— " He had no doubt, however, that when the time arrived to deal with the matter the Government would be equal to the occasion."