MODERN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15514, 22 January 1914, Page 9

MODERN INDIA.

INTEREST IN DOMINION.

PROSPECTIVE SETTLERS.

The recent industrial trouble in New Zealand created great interest in India, according to Mr. J. L. Bruce, of the Agricultural Department, who has just ' returned from that country to Wellington. Speaking to an interviewer in the Southern city, Mr. Bruce said that amongst the Anglo-Indian class and the big commercial firms the "opinions were freely expressed that the strikes would result in a great disaster to the commercial trade of these islands. The stand taken by the farmers and the Government was fol-

lowed with interest, and gratification resulted when it was found that New Zea land had so successfully weathered the storm.

A great interest, according to Mr Bruce, is felt in New Zealand by many of the wealthy class in India, who are desirous of retiring from business or administrative duties. He met dozens of Anglo-Indians who would be worth each from £100,000 to £200.000, who made extensive inquiries about these southern lands, with a view to settling in them. Mr. Bruce was able ■to ex°tend a hearty invitation,' and . assured them that the Government Tourist Bureau would supply them with sufficient information to convince them that this would prove an ideal resting-place after the tropics. The enormous population of India is not in such a bad state as generally supposed, according to Mr. Bruce. Sufficient work could be found for almost all the inhabitants at a wage which would enable them to live. A worker on the wharves there only gets about 8d per day, but he is not confronted with tailors bills, does not wear boots or shoes, and is able to get the food he requires at a very cheap rate. Of course the amount of work done by one native labourer would not in any way approach that done by a white worker in a more temperate zone, so large numbers of workers are employed MiBruce inspected a jute factorv on the banks of the Hughli River, where he WaS n^ by the manager, from 8000 to 9000 natives were employed daily When one considered that the banks of this historic river were lined with jute mills, one realised the enormous numbers of workers employed in the one industrv alone.