GENERAL BOOTH'S IMMIGRANTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 19

GENERAL BOOTH'S IMMIGRANTS.

♦ LONDON, October 2. A conference of the unemployed, representing 120 organisations of trades councils, trades unions, and unemployed committees, met in London. They denounced the proposals of General Booth and the Rev. William Carlisle (secretary of the Church Army) for the transport for Mfc of thousands of the flower of the working classes in pretended relief of the unemployed difficulty, the conference considering such methods to be mischievous and tending to stave off the growing demand for economic and social changes. October 5. The Lord Mayor of London has declined

to convene a meeting to discuss the Social j Democratic Federation's objections to j General Booth's and the Rev. William Carlisle's emigration schemes. MELBOURNE, October 4. Mr Deakin, replying to a question in the House of Representatives whether he would continue negotiations with General Booth, in view of the cabled statement that he was sending only unemployed, said that the matter was now in the I hands of the Agent-general. The fact ! that the emigrants were unemployed would not necessarily make them undesirable immigrants. In such States as could find land for their settlement they might enhance the prosperity of all classes. Mr Reid moved the adjournment of the Federal House of Representatives in order to discuss Sir William Lyne's hostility-to-the-Government proposals to promote immigration. The speaker said the policy was the corner-stone of the Government's

existence. Mr Deakin, speaking for the { whole of the Government (including Sir William Lyne), had cabled to General Booth stating that his offer was warmly welcomed. Sir William Lyne had acted treacherously. If he objected to the vital part of the Government policy he should resign. The Government was not strong enough to get rid of Sir William Lyne, who was such a political dingo that he had to be given office to save trouble. Sir William Lyne characterised the speech as a personal attack, and several warm passages followed. Sir William Lyne said he objected to the submerged tenth being brought to Australia and given the land whereto our own farmers' sons, had the first claim. Mr Deakin stated that he had been assured that the majority of those whom General Booth proposed to send had had agricultural experience. The motion was negatived. October 5. Mr Deakin explained in the House of Representatives, during the discussion raised by Mr Reid on Sir W. Lyne's atti- ! tudo on the question of G-enerai Tenth's

immigration scheme, that Sir William Lyne was not present when the Cabinet discussed General Booth's scheme, and ho was also under the impression when he spoke against tho scheme that it was fcko submerged tenth that was coming. Mr Deakin had no fear of that. October 8. General Booth has cabled to Mr D.eakin (the Federal Premier) deploring that owing to difficulties he i& unable to proceed with his emigration schem? at present. He says : " Perhaps the time is inopportune. I am disappointed, but fully appreciate the consideration of your Cabinet. 1 ' Mr Deakin cabled : " Much regret your inability to proceed. I assume the allusion to difficulties has no reference to Australia directly or indirectly." No reply to this, has yet been received. There is no information as to the cause of the collapse of the scheme. October 9. General Booth has cabled to Mr Deakin : "My references were to Australian difficulties. After conferring with the. Agentsgeneral and other Australian authorities,

and reading the report of the debate in your House, it became evident the States have some difficulty in offering such a welcome and facilities as would justify sending even a small contingent, and in accordance with the regulations in existence I did not think it desirable to adopt

a scheme calculated to create conflict be twe.en political parties in Australia." Mr Deakin replied : " The debate in th« Federal Parliament was not hostile, bui inconclus've owing to want of knowledge of detai. of your proposals. No conflict ■ between political j>arties is feared, and ' there is no change in the public attitude or that of the Government since my cable of Sejotember 22; consequently the cause '■ of the postponement of your scheme is not yet understood." Mr Deakin, commenting on the matter, says the debate in the Federal Parliament was, on the whole, distinctly favourable, though it was recognised the matter was chiefly in the hands of the States. Possibly Sir W. J. Lyne's objection to the . "submerged tenth" being sent to Australia influenced General Booth. With regard to the latter's reference to regula-

tions, whether he refers to the land laws, contract labour, Customs Act, or the matter of arranging passages is not clear. SYDNEY, October 3. At the eight-hours banquet Mr Travers, the- president, declared that their own people ought to be given an opportunity of obtaining employment before others were brought from outside. He recognised the high standing of General Booth, but the position was that he was_ largely attempting to take people out of the gutters without, taking any steps to remove the gutters. While he appreciated his efforts, he did not want Australia made the depositing ground of surplus labour brought up under unhealthy conditions. October 5. The Council debated the settlement question. The " speakers were favourable to a policy of attracting suit-able immigrants, but tho necessity of first amending the

land laws and making the land more accessible to settlers was strongly urged. October 9. Mr Carruthers (Premier of New South Wales) states that he fancies that General Booth has abandoned his emigration schema in consequence of the position taken up at Home. Under the circumstances, Australia was not willing to welcome derelicts. She was not willing to take people unless they were such as she could find employment for.