Austrians on the Gumfields.

Northland Age, Volume V, Issue 23, 1 February 1909, Page 5

Austrians on the Gumfields.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —Will you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper for a word or two ? In your issue of 18th January I notice a letter from Mr. George Scansie, of Aw&nui. Now patriotism is a beautiful sentiment, especially if nice and fresh and, as it were, new laid. From the tone of Georgie’s letter he must possess that sentiment in a high degree, even though it may be newly born. And who knows? It may yet hatch out a nice nestful of beautifully fledged £.s.d., and I am sure such keen and unselfish patriotism deserves a reward. Now, George, you would like to ask me a question anent recommendations to Austrians (giien by me) for their naturalisation ! The answer is, I am pleased to say, Yes—if recommendation consists of filling up application forms from their—the applicants’—statements given me while filling in the form, such as age, where born, occupation , how long in N.Z., how occupied during that time, etc., etc. If I had known them for any period I stated so and all I knew of their character I also stated. There are four men at Waiharara whose applications I filled in, and I am pleased at any time to shake them by the hand as they have fully borne out my recommendations and are all I described them, sober, industrious and honest. Mr. G. Scansie would have tofrom me the same recommendation if a r required, for I believe him to possess all the above virtues and more. The names of the four before mentioned men are Jack Babich, Joe Erceg, MijoLubino, and George Yuicich. There is a fifth fnan here who was recommended as above, but of whom I will say nothing ; we are not all infallible. Kindly bear in mind, and don’t forget, but take it to heart and ruminate over it, and understand, that all the above occurred some four or five years ago. The aspect of things has considerably altered ill the interim. THEN there were very few Austrians or others raiding the K.G. Reserve. Those few were welcome and the legitimate possessors did not buck. Now, to-day, dear Georgie, there are a great number of strangers taking possession of our K.G. Reserves and exploiting, denuding and taking away all the gum from the said Reserves for all they are 1 worth, and at such a rate that the poor unfortunate bona fide settler will Lave nothing left but a barren wilderness full of pitfalls and excavations to remind him of the devastating and absent stranger who has scooped all he could and retired to bis distant vineyard. Again, Georgie dear, you wish to know if it is a fault that the Austrian works early and late. No, Georgie, it is not a fault that I possess. I love to see plenty of energy, any amount of it, in fact I never tire of it in anyone who may be working for me. But in the case of the Austrian it is most decidedly a deadly fault. He is too darned enerK~le never stops. He seems to up of steel springs and divining e has an inherent instinct for e drops off the ship direct or > from his own country, makes pimfield (without compass) and o a ton patch. How can our K.G. Reserves stand energy like ich men are dumping here direct every week and if we sit and watch, without asserting our rights, then we had better shift first, before we are starved out—a thing we are hardly likely to do while we have the only right to remain. If the strangers would confine their superfluous energies to digging out the gum they might be tolerated, but they stretch themselves out and take possession by fencing in reserves and roads. The question of Maoris ! They have no chance among the strangers. The manufactured wine knocks them out. And I •till reiterate the statement made in my former letter—the Maori to-day has to go into deep and wet ground to get gum to keep his billy boiling. His luxuries are few but his needs are many. Georgie! You cannot understand, or will not savvy. The stranger is a robust powerful man in the prime aud vigour of manhood, inured to toil from childhood. He has no incumbrances in the Dominion, has one object in view—to make all the money he can while the gum lasts and then clear to greener fields. On the Jber hand the Maori is naturally a very iprovident creature. All his ties are in e land of his only home. All his r family, wife and children, are on the field with him. And the aged, infirm and weaklings are and must be provided for by the bread earner. Then the curse of the manufactured wine (where many and many sacks of gum go) increases the handicap. How similar the two cases! Georgie! You draw in the Awanui J,P. in reference to Austrians’ naturalisation. I may state that lam proud to f

number the J.P. of Awanui among my friends and I am sure the said J.P. knows his business re naturalisation or anything else better than you, Georgie, could teach him. Take my tip, Georgie (anyone can see where your talents lie) and stick to the patriotic racket. By jove ! It is a boss idea. Stick to it for a bonanza. Apologising, Mr. Editor, for this very absurd letter, I am, yours to ashes, PAT. SHINE. Waiharaia, 24th January, 1909.