GENERAL BOOTH'S IMMIGRANTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2692, 18 October 1905, Page 19

GENERAL BOOTH'S IMMIGRANTS.

AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. LONDON, October 10. Mr Bramwell Booth, on behalf of General Booth, has communicated the following to the newspapers : — "As several of the States in Australia are alarmed at ,the prospect of a stream of immigrants not possessed of ample financial capital, and as it would be difficult to satisfy them regarding the financial status of the settlers, a section of the press has raised a cry about sending the submerged tenth. No such idea entered our calculations. We believed that this fear was dying or was already dead, and that, with the proposal of the Federal Parliament to amend the immigration laws, emigration on a careful, systematic, and scientific plan would be heartily welcomed. This apparently was a mistake, and it is eyident that tha moment is inopportune for a^seheme of emigration' of the dimensions proposed. This view is confirmed by a conference with agents and other authorities on Australia resident in London. There does not seem to exist a disposition on the part of Australia as a whole to accord such a welcome to the people whom we /wish to send as would justify us in proceeding with the scheme." "In the case of such an important measure general unanimity is essential. No one had more cogently and consistently upheld the scheme than Mr Dteakin, whose speech in Parliament revealed a statesman possessed of strong convictions regarding the supreme, need of the Commonwealth and confidence in the Salvationists' ability to largely supply that need with a class of people who would do credit to all concerned. But the dir.ect responsibility of receiving and placing immigrants would devolve upon the States, and such a condition does not yet prevail in the Stat.es as would warrant us in proceeding. In. some respects Queensland and West Australia are (exceptions. They are prepared to lieartily welcome immigrants, but only in small contingents. These States assisted under the existing regulations. Doubtless other facilities will presently b& afforded, but even in regard to these States we are strongly advised to proceed with caution. We hope that small contingents will be useful to provide an object lesson as to the fitness of emigrants. If the change of plan secures heartier co-operation on the part of the colonials than at present seems possible the abandonment of the original echemai will be temporary. Meanwhile we must simply wait and work. W,a do not wish it to be understood that we are objecting to the attitude taken up by a large number of the people of the Australian States, as they are entitled to manage their own affairs ; and, while Salvationists deplora the difficulties in welcoming new population, it is useless to bewail." General Booth declared in an earlier interview with an Australian press representative that he did not wish to saj any-

thing calculated to lead to a conflict with the Labour party in his statement above. The Times says that General Booth's conclusion that the moment is inopportune is possibly right, but the grounds stated are surely inadequate. It is difficult to avoid the. impression that something is being witheld which might explain the sudden withdrawal. October 11. Mr Coghlan, Agent-general for New South Wales, has issued a statement defining the attitude of the Agents-general towards General Booth. "Mr Coghlan a fortnight ago informed Colonel Taylor, who called on General Booth's behalf, that he was not officially aware how the proposals would be received in Australia, and that when he was officially instructed he would communicate with General Booth. Meanwhile he suggested the maturing of the scheme ready for discus-, sion, should the Agents-general be instructed to co-operate. I\lr Coghlan assured Colonel Taylor that there was great sympathy with immigration among the Australian representatives, but the -emigrants must be of a class approved by the \ Australian people. Besides this official statement, several of the Agents-general subsequently expressed to Colonel Taylor their individual opinion. Sir Horace Tozer, Agent-general for Queensland, suggested that the existing system of nominated passages should be utilised for a small experiment under the Salvation Army auspices. Mr Dobson (Tasmania) urged that the paramount necessity was careful selection. Mr James, -the Agent-general for Western Australia, declared that General Booth's scheme must not be rushed. The idea of putting down 5000 families in on,e. season was entirely out of the question. There should be a proper selection, with small .beginnings. Mr Taverner, Ag.ent-general for Victoria, said that any scheme must be carefully thought-out, and a general policy established. The Victorian Government would welcome immigrants with means, but it had a duty to perform to its own people, who were desirous of settling on the land. Mr Coghlan, Agent-general for New South Wales, remarked that it appeared that none of the Australian representatives had turned a cold shoulder to the scheme. They wer.e- awaiting a specific intimation and definite proposals by the Salvation Army. October 12. The Hon. A. Lyttelton, in reply to an inquiry regarding the likelihood of the Government granting in the near future State aid to desirable emigrants, declares that he is unable at present to answer the question. The report of the committee which was now taking evidence in connection with Mr Rider Haggard's report should materially assist the further consideration of the whole subject. General Booth, in an interview, said : — " The attitude of the workers in Australia regarding the large offer made compelled its withdrawal. It would be unwise to get into a cooatrovrersy with the workers, among whom is the. larger branch of the Army. If I sent 1000 families, they would probably take with them £30,000. When we said 5000 families, we 6aid it off-hand • but had Australia taken 100 per week we would have agreed to their plans. Those whom we wish to send are men with small means and strong arms. Canada wanted workers, but Australia was hampered by the industrial labour party." Commissioner Nicol, General Booth's private secretary, states that the scheme was not given up for want of ni^ney. The difficulty lies in the simple fact that we did not find in Australia the warmth of feeling towards the proposed emigrants which is. essential to success. South Australia did not want us, Victoria was lukewarm, and New South Wales made no I definite offer, though they had land avail- | able. He admitted that General Booth had been a little too sanguine. October 13. General Booth says : "If Australians i have the old-fashioned notion of only taking men with large sums of money, then \ I am unable to send them. Consultations

with the Agents-general made it clear the time was not ripe for a large experiment. They were against anything beyond small contingents, such as are always going out. There must be concessions in the way of assistance. There ought to be assisted passages." October 14. General Booth when shown the question asked by Mr Higgins in the Federal Parliament of Australia to the effect that he (General Booth) had said Australia was hampered by the Industrial Labour party, remarked : — " There is some misunderstanding. I did not make such a sweeping statement. I stated some time ago that one State in particular was opposed to me, but I recently gave Mr Watson special credit for his attitude towards emigration." General Booth, on being interviewed by the Daily Chronicle, said :— " We are not yet ready for an ambitious colonisation scheme. When more capital is available colonisation will proceed. It is now a question of emigration by people who are ready to go, but we want reasonable -assistance from Australia or the Home Government. MELBOURNE, October 13. Mr Deakin has received a cable from General Booth stating that he is "prepared to send emigrants approved by the Agentsgeneral in numbers such as Mr Deakin thinks the country can find employment for. In the House of Representatives Mr Higgins directed attention to General Booth's statement that Australia was hampered by the Industrial Labour party. He asked Mr Denkin to se.e. that the true attitude of the Labour party was placed before the London public. Mr Deakin promised to call General Booth's attention to the position. SYDNEY, October 16. At the inaugural meeting of the Immigration League, Mr Deakin advocated the necessity of suitable immigrants to develop the country. They would come if the slanderers of Australia were chased down. Mr Watson, without committing himself to details, generally supported the movement. If General Booth could send men prepared to make a new venture and give some assistance towards their making homes, he saw no reason why objection should be raised ; on the other hand, he believed that every assistance should be given General Booth.