IMMIGRATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6269, 24 July 1907, Page 5

IMMIGRATION

METHODS CHALLENGED AN ENTHUSIASTIC PRESIDENT. “EVERYTHING MUST BE COULEUR DE ROSE.” By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright SYDNEY, July 23. Tho Immigration Loaguo resents the action of Dr Arthur, its president, 'n writing letters, some of which they allege are too roseate hued, in regard to tho prospects of emigrants. j Matters reached a crisis over a letter sent to the secretary of the Victorian League, in which Dr Arthur suggested the placing of pamphlets containing information about tho States on board mail steamers. Ho says;—"Don’t mix up immignu tion and land settlement in your pamphlet. In am immigration book ovorj'tliing must be coulour do rose—there must be no hint of difficulty about getting land. You needn’t bo afraid you will bo rushod. Even when Queensland offered cheap farms in London there was only one applicant. As regards land settlement for homo (Victorian) consumption, you can as pessimistic and indignant as you like—the blacker tho bettor, 'though don’t got too much on the lino. What is tho use of inviting immigrants here when we have nothing to offer thorn? That would ohoko off subscriptions. Arnyhow, don’t do anything to frighten off immigrants, because competition for them is so severe in Europe; and even if conditions changed for, the better in Victoria you might find that it was of no avail, aa you had given tho place a bad reputation.’* The loaguo asks Dr Arthur to refrain from seeking re-olootion as president. Dr Arthur declares that the letter from which the foregoing quotations are made was a private one, that ho was giving his counsel iu colloquial terms, and that nothing should bo done to retard the movement. He says ho did not mean to suggest that people should bo deceived.

THE FEELING IN VICTORIA

VIEWS OF FEDERAL AND STATE MINISTERS. MELBOURNE, July 23. The Federal Government is interested in the Immigration League trouble, because some of the money voted by Parliament last year has gone to different portions of the league. Mi listers recognise that good work has been done by Dr Arthur, but are inclined to think that he has allowed his zeal to run away with his discretion. Nobody, they say, wants immigrants to como here in ignorance of our conditions.

Air Davies, Acting-Premier of Vic. toria, commenting on Dr Arthur’s methods of attracting immigrants, says ho utterly disapproves any method which will not bear tbe closest scrutiny. 'The position should bo stated exactly as it exists, and then no newcomer can say that he is deceived, either, by painting things. too attractively or by suppress, ing facts. '