WITH THE EMIGRANTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 86

WITH THE EMIGRANTS.

By Constance Clyde.

There have been times when the Old Land deposited her refuse in the New, when she carefully searched convict prison or slum when she wished to make a gift to her daughter colonies. , Now it is the daughter that does the selecting, and it is from the successful, not the failures, that she chooses. She carefully picks out the best, tests them so far as she can to prove that they are the best, and then, in a sense, purchases them, for her own using. Some of these I encountered bound for Wellington, New Zealand. There were nearly 30 of them, female assisted passengers, mostly over 30, a few some years younger. Cook-housekeep-ing seemed to be the leading ambition, with some desire to nurse an elderly invalid, preferably "a gentleman." Some came from the Avilds of Scotland and Ireland, and had the haziest notions of seatravelling. " I thought I should see the land all the way. Somehow I did," said one. Another was terror-stricken at the first onslaughts of sea sickness. Each had her life-story to impart to a sympathetic ear, interesting tales of circumstances that led up to this great step — a trial of the New World. What hard times they seem to have known, these workers in the Homeland! One, the gayest of all in seeming, tells of arduous field work, toiling to maintain a helpless father. She tells of her appearance at early mass coming in shivering from the meadows, her 'nekerchief almost" frozen to her neck. Then came the loss of her father and other troubles. One brother got up in the world, became a clerk, and would not know her. Another emigrated to Canada; but this, it seemed, would be too cold for her. So at last she took courage, and decided on New Zealand, which is known not only as God's Own Country, but also as the land for girls. " I knew I didn't look strong, so I slapped my face well before I appeared before the emigration doctor," she said. That appearance before the doctor is indeed no mere formality. the girls deciding on problematical situations before leaving; others are going out to stay with relatives and " look about them" before settling down to work. During the early part of the voyage the emigrants think mostly of "being treated with consideration." One tells me of an English mistress whose sick baby she nursed till worn out, after which she was dismissed, without thanks or acknowledgment. Later on, however, the thought of added wages seems paramount, the girls deciding on priblematical situations according to the wages alone. Extravagant notions as to remuneration prevailed, and the captain himself is forced to send a message stating that there was a limit to the New Zealand employer's purse, though none to his desire, for English servants. Offers made by two firstclass passengers—a pound a week each—are disregarded. The land itself, however, has a taming influence. When the ship had been in dock two days one of the seekers comes back to inform the matron that she had obtained a "nice position at 15s a week." Another, lately clamorous for the 40s a Meek, was encountered enjoying her first buggy ride to a farm where half that amount would satisfy her. There is a great difference noticeable in these women towards the fact that they are "assisted" passengers. Some ask the matron not to '' sow them tip before the ship.*" Certain male passengers and certain families, proud at having paid full fare, are determined to find out the assisted emigrants, and are suspicious ,if the matron stops to speak to any girl. Others, however, consider the emigration test rather a distinction. "It shows New Zealand wants us if she's willing to pay for us," says one. " I daresay many of those that are pretending to be so superior tried and couldn't pass the tests," added anoher. One energetic Scotch lady threatened to "give her daughter the stick" if she failed to reoorfc to all and sundry that she was an" emigrant. She wasn't going to have any of this stuff and nonsense and foolish pride. In most cases the women, naturally enough, perhaps, are not willing to tie themselves down on the voyage. First class passengers send round notices in vain, and second class ladies even offer "friendly talks'" for possibly the same purpose. In some cases, however, the women are less reluctant. One poor cookhousekeeper is prostrated Avith sea sickness that sinks temporarily to nervous debility. She hears of these places to be had, and implores to be taken to the first class on a stretcher. It j 6 thought however, that the spectacle of an "ablebodied" emigrant weakly whispering for more wages from a mattress would not be helpful even to herself. So she is bidden to rest and recover, which, fortunately, she does. J

So they arrive at last at the countrv for girls. There is some excuse for their little moods of self-importance when we note how much fuss is made of them. No sooner is the gangway down than there leaps on board the villain of the piece—an agent from some tailoring firm who wants to lure the girls away from their proper domestic avocations to <nve them 25s or 30s a wegk in his firm. °He is foiled, however, and retires discomfited, to be succeeded later by a lady from some labour organisation, who desires to be assured that none of the women are accepting small wages. The women assure him very truthfully that they are not. On the wharf meanwhile waits a farmer who thinks that there is a matrimonial bureau somewhere in the Arhole business and who departs reluctantly when enlightened as to the Government's severely industrial views.

So girls and women depart to their, new homes, leaving us with but one criticism to make. These are mostly -women of experience in their own line, and certainly

of a " towering ambition." They will fulfil needed wants in large establishments. But what of the small homes? Surely it might be worth while to send out also humbler girls to fill the lowlier places! I think of the many small homes badly needing help, but unable to pay a pound a week. I think of the over-worked, underpaid girls in England, not experts perhaps, but .still efficient, who, one fancies, also need this new land, and are needed by it.