A LETTER FROM WINNIPEG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12281, 27 May 1903, Page 7

A LETTER FROM WINNIPEG.

Mr. Edmund Bell, formerly of Auckland, writes from Winnipeg to a friend in Auckland as follows:—"Canada is making rapid strides. The immigration last year was large, but this year it promises to be much larger. This is such an immense country that a hundred. thousand settlers make but little impression upon its surface. Next month the advanoc guard of several thousand English will arrive. They are going to settle together about 500 miles west of this city. Several thousand miles of railway will be under construction this summer; in fact, the number will be only limited by tho labour available for construction. Of course, the effect of this development is to force the price of labour and material to a much higher level, and strikes are continually occurring, both in Canada and the United States. One effect of this will be to render American competition less successful in foreign markets. We are evidently approaching a time of change and readjustment of political and commercial theories and principles, which have been looked upon as axiomatic. The polioy of the United States is <®fce incarnation of selfishness, tinctured with occasional gleams of sentiment. . For instance, Lady Curzon is called the 'American Vicereine of India,' which tickles the fancy of thousands of ambitious American men and women. Another thing which is influencing American opinion favourably towards our Empire is the necessity for foreign markets, and tho truth is gradually dawning upon the minds of their foremost men that the British Empire is something much larger than the dominions of Uncle Sam— proposition worth cultivating for tradte benefits and political prestige. Accordingly, it is believed that the big financiers and manufacturers of the United States are in favour of a working partnership with Britain, if not a political understanding. Such would be to their interest, for the trade of 400,000,000 of people, occupying nearly a-quarter of the earth's surface, over which the Union Jack flies, has vast potentialitiesquite sufficient to occupy the energies of an Anglo-American combination. Some pp. ->le believe that great changes are imminent in the United States, owing to the antipathy which is growing in the minds of the people against the trusts and combines, which, as they possess the power of regulating production and prices, are able to neutralise any advantage secured by labour bodies. A great many people are enamoured with public* ownership of railways, mines, etc., so that what with humanitarians and workmen a strong political party may be organised in the near future. Winnipeg is still growing, and it is expeotcd that newcomers will have to use tents this summer. The population is now 63,000, which is not bad for a city 30 years old."