AUSTRALASIA’S FUTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 7

AUSTRALASIA’S FUTURE

AMBASSADOR BOOTH AN INTERESTING TALK ON IMMIGRATION. CtHRIOTLESS SOCIALISTS.. “After your three years’ tour of Australasia how do things strike you ?” was the first question a “Times” interviewer put to Ambassador Booth. “From the standpoint of material development,” replied Mr Booth, “I am impressed. Though from Australians I have heard little but lamentation ccmcerning what they term ‘lack of entm'prise,’ yet, as never before, I have appreciated the persistency and pluck with which these embryo nations, in this isolated quarter of the globe, have been built up. With more time on this trip to see things I understand better what it must have meant in dash and daring to rear, inside a hundred years, on the borders of these forests, such cities as Sydney and Melbourne, to say nothing of your equally delightful centres, affording their populations all the conveniences of modern' invention. One must judge by difficulties encountered. Considering these, I think the builders of Australasia compare well with the constructors of the' United States, who have had an easier ride to victory on a flood tide of prpspei'ity.'' IMMIGRATION. “But what about immigration ?” “Of course! But, speaking as a business man, it can, I think, come only by intelligent organisation. Picture pamphlets of laden orchards and bountiful crops won’t do it. One cabled report of drought will offset all that Most Englishmen were horn and reared in a drizzle. Rain, with its attendant luxuriance of green

things, is their native element. They would rather ben corralled by Canadian snows than risk a landi of uncertain

moisture. A systematised establishment of industries for prepared or practised industrials is needed. If settlers are wanted they shotild be planted as you transplant cabbages in a garden—a prepared place for a prepared man. If skilled workers are invited, it would pay handsomely to, buy up whole woollen mills—machinery, management, workers —and transfer the lot to suitable land, factories and homes, where the sheep are. Such a bringing of the mills and the sheep together would relieve the overcrowded centres at Home, immensely benefit the settlers, and pay enormously as an investment.. The Southern States . ofj America have adopted this plan with their eottoij.* W’hy not wool? . ’! "... GOD’S WAY OF GETTING ON. “Then why should not Australasin benefit herself by helping others?” That’s God’s way .of getting on. Look at Europe 1, *At this moment there are conditions ; there which, if-taken advantage of; would deliver oppressed peoples and prosper this continent. Take the Armenians persecuted Christians for whom Britain has shouted her sympathy. Talk about ‘little nations.’ The wrongs of Belgium are small . compared wjth. the sufferings of Armenia’ This’ race of martyrs constitute the. problem for. the nations. Think of it! Now England has got rid of the German navy she is deserting these helpless Christians to be massacred by the bloody Turk. 'Why not start a scheme for bringing them in shiploads out here to expend their notorious energy as peasants on Australia’s far-flung untilled lands? Such a scheme, if - backed by these Government®, would secure the support of the British Parliament, the Congress of the United States of America, most certainly the liberal help of the whole philanthropic world j and nbt unlikely the co-operation ,of tte ; Turks themselves, It would, pay hanclsomejy to get rid of the Armenian problem—tho open sore ever the peace of Europe. Let the people of these lands try the mfethod of Moses for God’s modern afflicted people, and they will discover that, while succouring others, they "will develop another Promised Land. In Queensland I saw rivers running waste to the sea that with the help of such a peasantry would create another California up there.”

SOCIAL .PROBLEMS. “And what dd you think of this country’s social problems?” -. “Well, to me it seems a most suggestive thing that in such a country there should be any social problems at all. We are toldl incessantly by advocates of revolution that it is environment which ensures the character and contjntment of the race. Give a man land to produce on, a convenient house to live in, a wholesome factory to work in, efficient schooling for his children, fair wages for no excessive labour, suitable repreation, fresh air, blue skies, and representative government give ■him these things, they say, arid you have solved the problem. And yet in Australasia where these things abound, where a rich continent larger than tho United States -has been granted a popn- ! lation less than the city of London; where labourers in large numbers own their homes, where factory laws most exacting in the world; where educational systems are a® efficient ap intelligence can devise; where wages are beyond the giddiest dreams of Euror pean workers; where there are eight Parliaments, seven Upper Houses, and one Senate for seven millions of men, women, and children—amidst all these abundant advantages we are told that things have drifted into such a condition that the everywhere evident signs of unrest, dissatisfaction, and revolt are justifiable. Clearly Australia’s generous environment has not produced a celestial condition of things for the Australasian. In proportion to the , population I question if in any quarter ' of the globe you will find so much kicking and striking.”“THIS IS WHERE THEY GO ASTRAY.” “How do you account for it?” “Ah, now you’re talking. Here is where the anti-Christian agitators are so sadly astray-. They don’t pfoperly diagnqse society’s disease.. They prescribe for consequences rather than for hidden causes —for the symptom rather than for the secreted germs. The ‘capitalism’ they thunder at is in reality the fruition of selfishness deeprooted in the hearts of rich and poor alike. Until you have found a cure for that, this old world will continue its crazy struggle to save itself by frantically climbing out of one hole only to tumble -into another. Society is askew because the heart of man is out of gear with God. That’s why things have got where they are in

Australia. Ho-w otherwise? Cant the Christless reformers see that the very conditions they 6wear at—many of them unjust indeed —aro themselves a contradiction to their theories? For surely never people had better chances for instituting a system of economic freedom than the settlers of - this wealthy land. Here was environment indeed. How comes it that those who' had most of it —many of whom were fugitives themselves from the oppression of others —however did these become, when they grew rich, the defenders of the very system they had condemned when practised by thei T old taskmasters? 11l tell you. .It is because you cannot society without changing man. Man is greater than .his environment. . Indeed, he is greater than the machinery he devises, even when that mechanism is for his own improvement. That’s why, while Australia is blessed with more representative Governments than any nation-On earth, I hear so little over here but abuse of the men in rower. And that’s why the troubles of Chnst•lesa Socialists will begin ten minutes after they’ve got their system—much of it admirable—into operation. The difficulty is vou cannot trust the beggars on the top!” “Then there is no ; solution P” “Yes, indeed. At mv meeting tonight and r-n ’Sunday I’ll tell you of the only intelligent solving of this riddle when I sneak of a Savour able to sweeten the fountains which spring from the devil, who is tho primary .-iLiuM of the world’s misery.’'