A NEW CHUM'S STORY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12483, 9 March 1909, Page 4

A NEW CHUM'S STORY.

A New Zealand new chum writes to the "Chester Chronicle," * from ; flawke' s Bay thus :— | "They crack iip this country as a paradise for working men. and when they get out there they find they have a good many years to go before the*y are comfortable, and lucky if they do it then." It will be worse by-and-bye, as they are flooding the labour market to get cheap labour. Some' of the stationownars meet the boats and .get what men they waitt; and get.them to sigh an agreement • for so lfflg, 4t ahoiit half the regular wages and in most cases what they want, for the young fellows are strangers and do not imow anything about the country and take the first thing that turns up. If they do not they go ashore and have to ba-ttie fof themselves. They go to 6he labour bureau, wliich sends them fco anythng they have so as to7_ get them off their hands. The /majority are no uso at the job, and they have to battle for themselves. There are five' new chums at a station close to here, and' the five of them get two regular men's wages divided between ;them. A few years ago they could have a look round and then soon get something better, but not now, the country is glutted: . It /is 1 not so ba<J with anyone who has. a little capital •and can have a look round; and then it is no chuck-in.". _