WORKING MEN AND IMMIGRATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IX, Issue 2865, 31 March 1885, Page 2

WORKING MEN AND IMMIGRATION.

TO THE EDITOR, OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir,—l have noticed that your contemporary earnestly advocates the Government of this colony to push forward the immigration interests. As far as I can understand, he would have the Govern"ment flood the colony with working men. Now, sir, I cannot help thinking that your contemporary cannot possibly know anything about the men whatever. I could stand and publicly swear that neither your contemporary nor any of his staff has ever passed a night at any of tho sheep stations in this colony, or surely the Times would never write so. Men ! working men ! Gracious heavens ! Why, if your contemporary would travel round the colony, he would find without tho shadow of a doubt that working mon are as numerous in this colony as boot-blacks around the Bank of England. If, sir, your contemporary were aware of these facts, I think ho would alter hi 3 tone concerning immigration. In my travels during the late shearing and harvesting seasons I have met over one thousand men with no other means of support in I his world thau their labors. They, a3 a rule, carry their bedding on their backs, and, I may state, that they are under their roof when their hat is on. Now, sir, by the above which is true—you will see that we do not want any more of tho working classes-im-ported to this country. If your contemporary would have the population of this country increased 1 would advise him to encourage the increase of tho moneyed and not the laboring class ; as we have already more of the working class in this colony than we can provide work for. I am, &c., Stephen Bomijam. Oamaru, 30th March, 1885.