INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 252, 23 April 1910, Page 6

INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS.

While the cry is' being eternally raised that we want population and should attract immigrants to these pious shores, the fact clearly remains firm , ami adamant that New Zealand s immigration policy has proved a snare, a delusion, and a fraud, and that Australia has profited by what immigration there has oeen to the Dominion. In ttu rally, Uauada has every advantage, geographically particularly, over her rivals, .New Zealand and Australia, and Canada is certainly attracting to tliat Dominion the most suitable of British settlers. New Zealand has profited not at all, and a vast majority of those who have come here to take up land, or to mafce a new home m a new world, have proved themselves, to say the least, not desirable. One sampie of the British immigrant came before the Wellington bench the other day, charged with being an idle and disorderly person. The man, from all accounts, was eager and willing to work, but was physically incapable, and the visiting Justice to the Terrace Gaol . went on to say that the man was useless, and couid not even perform tasKs allotted to him m prison. Moreover, this slow-going, slow-witted individual had been lured out to" New Zea-^ .land, expecting to be welcomed with open' arms and to be at once placed m steady employment. He had "been, deceived by the "medicine tongue" of some ( immigration agent. lie had mortgaged his English home, come out here, and left his wife and family behind m England. Now that man threatens to become a burden on the community, and the best thing the ■ Government can "'.' do is to pay fits passage back to England. Ooubtless this immigrant would then be content to spend the remainder of his days m a country that is bossed by the, House of Lords. Such immigrants, we do not desire. But such immigrants we seem to get. It occurs to. '"I ruth" that at the English end of the world there are some audacious liars abroad.