“WARNING FROM NEW ZEALAND”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 31

“WARNING FROM NEW ZEALAND”

Under the above heading the “Daily Chronicle” of June 12th publishes the following letter: — As a working man and one tvho has resided in this colony for the past four years I think I may claim to possess a little knowledge of this co-called “workmen's paradise,” and I say without fear of contradiction that the worker is little if any better off here than in England. Wages are certainly higher here, but the cost of living is also higher, and to my mind out of all proportion to the wages. In a few things I notice very little difference, such as bread, butter, and milk, but potatoes are nearly always 50 per cent, dearer than Home" market prices, and other vegetables are practically twice the price. As for house rent, wearing apparel, and other necessaries of life, tne prices are ail considerably higher than m England. It bus been freely stated that no poverty and no slums exist in New Zealand. I for one am willing to show any person interested slums in all the four centres, and as genuine poverty as could be found anywhere. With such conditions existing in the colony I think it scandalous to fetch numbers of my countrymen here. There is absolutely no scope for a townsman unless he be a person of exceptional abilities. Whai; New Zealand really requires are master farmers with not less than <£soo; there also may be room for farm labourers, but even in that line there are any amount both in New Zealand and Australia —hundreds arrive here from that country every summer. S. BEAL Auckland, N.Z. (Late of Sussex).