MOUTHS AND MUSCLE

Southland Times, Issue 17304, 28 March 1913, Page 3

MOUTHS AND MUSCLE

THAT ENGLAND DOESN'T WANT THE TONGARIROS LOAD. The Tongariro, after the long run from Cape Town, arrived at Dunedin this morning with 300 passengers in the 3rd class, of which 104 were children, says yesterday's Dunedin Star. There was much bustle and movement on the big ship as with the mingled hope and misgiving of “strangers in a strange land” the new comers strained over the railings of the liner to catch a first glimpse of "God’s own country,” the land of their adoption and the scene of their future aspiring labours. With little of the romance that poetry has given to the famous Mayflower venture, but a good deal of the reality they stepped eagerly oft the boat to set first foot on the new inviting shore of the virile young country witii the big national debt that gave a dreadnought at a critical hour to the bent and harassed Mother Land with its 45,000.000 naval budget and its 12.000,000 people always on the verge of starvation. All unconscious were these' hopeful immigrants of the attitude of trades and labour councils to our policy of developing our young country with muscle that England cannot feed. Many were talkative and most were anxious looking. Even the children. ids of them, had that strained look which betokened a premature awakening to the realities of life and a knowledge more or less vivid of the revolution that was coming over their young lives. Eables In arms there were, assets all unconscious of their providential transit from a life perhaps of early drudgery at the pit mouth to the green fields and free, secular, and compulsory education of Maorlland. The people were of all grades and appearances—if there were types they were tost In the conglomerate confusion.

Hotch-potchness was the feature that struck the onlooker. “What a motley crew!” But then they were probably dressed in clothes that had served them throughout the voyage. All the same, the British working man proverbially dresses badly—and the British "working” woman—well, if those on the ship were types, dress with them is both a problem and a tragedy.

The domestic type, for which the easy-placed maironhood of this country petitions Parliament and sends deputations to Ministers, was a prominent division of the .Tongariro’s load. Some of these were very approachable—in fact, cosmopolitan. My sweetheart, said one gratuitously, came out two years ago and he sent my passage money homo. I’m down as a domestic —but it's going to be for him, she added quite liagrantly. The pressman was besieged. I’m going to 'Wellington, said another; what’s it like ? The pressman thought of wind, but forbore and gave a promising account. Many were going to Auckland, which was very popular. Large numbers of ladies were coming to join their husbands. One with a baby on each arm had heard since she came (from some rogue) that girls were five to one in New Zealand. She was glad she was not coming out to look for a husband.

A diligent canvass and guarded enquiries failed to discover any more than four farmers among the men folk. One had fled Cheshire because his wages gave no promise of ever allowing him to get married. The reporter looked at his stalwart proportions and clear eye, and wished him better luck in God’s Own Country. Another farmer, who apparently had a stocking with him (for he was reserved and stand-offish), admitted that he hoped to take up land in this country after working for a year or so to get used to the conditions. A domestic came up and said : "Come on. Jack, and we'll go up town." The reporter turned to the next farmer, who was going to Greymouth, but he did not know why. He just had a fancy for it. Asked if they got all their guidance in selecting their new country from the High Commissioner, one of the “new chums” said that he wrote' to the office for information on mining matters, and got in return a big pack of books on ’’Farming in New Zealand,” on which the postage was fourpence. "So I ‘signed on as a farm labourer, and came out.” He was going north —probably to Wild Waihi.

The voyage out was notable for favourable weather, and everyone appeared to enjoy the long sojourn at sea between Cape Town and Talroa Heads. The northern Immigrants are going north with the Monowai. Mr A. M. Adams, of the Immigration Department, met the steamer.