OF NEW ZEALAND INTEREST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19500, 8 June 1925, Page 13

OF NEW ZEALAND INTEREST.

MIGRANTS. FIFTY YEARS AGO. (From Oort Own Correhpondent.) LONDON, April 21. Fifty years ago, it' appears, people in Now Zealand were finding fault with tho typo of immigrant sent out, from the Home Country. 'Jims a correspondent m the young colony wrote to a London paper : “ 'there seems to -be a fear in England that tho best men of the Old Country are moving away to the new. Tho experience out here is that we have a, very fair share of an inferior quality of biped among our imports. There is probably some subtle pleasure in our immigration agents in England making np their invoices of assisted emigrants. Thus, throe carpenters, two school teachers, 15 farm labourers, two dorks, ono artist look bettor than when afterwards reasserted and classified somewhat • after the following manner:—One haked-potato man, two umbrella menders, live habitual drunkards, one showman, two thimble-riggers, two cork-cutters, a featherdresser, two dolls’-eye makers, one ‘Chelsea bruiser,’ throe loafers (pure and simple), two good men and true. It must yet bo an open question which country is.most benefited by the importation of these people.’ EMPIRE TRADE. Sir Arthur Myers has been giving an interview to a London correspondent, of certain North of England newspapers. Discussing tho importance of developing intorKnipire trade, Sir Arthur said it was an opportune moment to repeat King Georges •advice after his lour of the overseas minions in 1901 —“Wake np, England ! The time had arrived for individual patriotism to ho exercised in a practical manner. "British goods for British people carried in British bottoms,” might well he exploited as the slogan of all sections of (lie, community. In view of the serious condition of affairs in the Mother Country, and the growing acceptance by all classes of political thought of tho conviction that tho remedy lies in an expansion of Empire trade, he declared that everything possible should be done voluntarily to further this object. Referring to various food supplies, he said it was not for him to suggest reasons for the disparity in price bet,ween New Zealand butter and Continental brands, but bo asked consumers to test the former and ascertain for themselves the truth of his assertion about ‘ls merits. By dealing with their own kith and kin not only would consumers receive satisfact ion themselves, but they would be assisting in tho development of a spirit of Imperial preference upon which our present, needs and future, existence depended. The difficulty experienced in tho past through the irregularity of shipments had now been overcome bv tbe Dairy Control Board, which had been ml, up to solve the question. MUNICIPAL TRADING. Electrical Times and Lighting refers to the discontent caused among New Zealand electrical dealers owing to the. fact that local authorities are selling appliances direct to consumers. Comment, is based on an article appearing in ah Australian paper. “ It looks as if (he Now Zealand dealer is in a far worse, position.than his England confrere,” says The Electrical Times, “for however much the latter may object to a local authority introducing the thin end of tho wedge with regard to selling direct, there is no suggestion that the methods of trading will be unfair. If the charge mad© as to long credits and deferred payments refer only to schemes of (lie nature of the hire purchase or rental hiring now being so readily adopted by supply undertakings in this country, we are afraid that contractors will have io face such competition. But we gather from the article that the boards have set up their own installation departments, which have been so successful that they have been encouraged to go in for trading in domestic appliances. By the exercise of good feeling on both sides contractors and supply undertakers m this country have in many instances come to satisfactory working arrangements, and r.o doubt the E.C.A., if approached, could give the traders of Now Zealand some very valuable advice on the subject.” A WORLD IN MINIATURE. To Tho Magazine Of Tho Wesleyan Methodist Church, tho Rev. J. T. Pinfold, D D., contributes an attractively illustrated article on “The Britain of the South.” L contains much information of the kind desired by the prospective migrant from tho Mother Country. He remarks that all who have visited the dominion arc charmed with her scenery and delighted with (ho general well-being of her people. “New Zealand has been called the land of the greenstone, the glacier, and the. geyser. It is a wor.d in miniature,” says tho writer. “As the visitor to its friendly shores travels across its great lakes, penetrates its dark, majestic forests, or steams up some of its beautiful rivers, he realises that lie is with Nature’s favourite child. Full of charm and variety, it possesses more natural phenomena than will be found in any other country. Sir Hercules Robinson said, when he was Governor of New Zealand, 'The country possesses in combination the most natural advantages of any country under tho sun.’ His words but crystallise (he truth. The luxuriant vegetation, the unique geysers, glistening glaciers, shimmering cascades, lovely waterfalls, magnificent fiords, stupendous gorges, and awe-inspring mountains. combine to make a holiday in this Britain of the South a never-to-be-forgotten experience. . . . Speaking generally, the people arc enterprising, progressive, and high-spirited. They are thoroughly patriotic, both towards their own country and towards the Empire, to which they are proud to belong. They are absolutely devoted to Britain, loyai to the King and bis Royal house, and willing to spend their last shilling and shed their last, drop of Wood in defence of Home and Motherland.”