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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 24, 5 March 1914, Page 6

; It has been hurled u^ ra^as somewhat in the nature of a reproach that while • the Antipodes received a trickle of immigrants from the overcrowded Homeland, they swept into Canada, a veritable stream. The Northern Dominion held out more attractive land lures than did Australasia. Settlement acres were offered to suitable colonists on the most advantageous terms, and this, assisted by the proximity of Canada to the United' Kingdom, brought immigrants across the Atlantic in thousands. * But time has proved that the Canadian system of immigration was too indiscriminate,' too little supervise/ly. "to be satisfactory. Canada's great need for settlers was (and is) .very pronounced j unfor-, tunately, the crowds that have flocked tb her: shores, contain but a very small element of workers able and willing to undertake' the ordinary agricultural operational.: * ■ Canada >is being deluged with clerks, unskilled,. labourers, and. i 1 wasters,' '• and .eyery. winter sees the, number jof her unemployables and un-employed'-.'increase. Australia and. New Zealand experienced a like trouble until the matter of immigration was placed oil a sound and logical basis. Both these countries are conducting a progressive immigration policy whose object is to supply their greatest need —that of strong fellows to assist in developing the primary industries. Mr Jesse Collings, the noted English small holdings specialist, complained recently that the oversea colonies we*e bleeding the Old Country white in the matter ot farm hands. Well, if England cannot care for these the colonies will. The Sedgwick idea, though still in its infancy, promises to help New Zealand agriculturists, atid the Assistant Superintendent of Immigration for Victoria and New South Wales is hard at work obtaining some 500 youths between the ages of sixteen and twenty, who will be willing'to go to Australia to take up farm work there. The Government of Victoria' has guaranteed that it is prepared to,receive and find employment in agricultural work, for between 5000 and 6000 lads, 'whp-will be assisted to cross the worlds If this proposal be taken up in earnest, it .may be that the " blind alley" boys; of the big English cities, whose future in their native environ ment is absolutely hopeless, will find a ladder up' wjiich .they may climb* from the''frt.