DECEIVING IMMIGRANTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5541, 25 July 1907, Page 1

DECEIVING IMMIGRANTS.

SYDNEY, July 33. The Immigration Leagu* resent the action of Dr Arthur, the President, i ‘ -writing letters, some of which they they allege arc too roseale-hued in regard to tkc prospects of emigrants. Matters reached a crisis over a letter sent to the secrctay of the Victorian League, in which Dr Arthur suggested Hie p.acing of pamphlets containing information about the States . on board mail steamers. Ho says, “Don’t mix up immigration -and land settlement in your pamphlet. In an immigration book everytking must be couletir dc rose, and no hint of a difficulty about getting, land. You needn’t bo afraid you will bo rushed. Even when Queensland offered cheap farms in London, there was only one applicant. As regards land aettl*-mo-nt Sor homo (Victorian) consumption, you can be as pessimistic and indignant as you like, the blacker the better, though flor/t get too much on the line. ‘What is the use of invitimg immigrants hero when you have nothing to offer them ?’ That would choke off subscriptions. Anyhow don’t do anything to frighten off immigrants, because competition for them is so severe in Europe, and even if the conditions changed for the better in Victoria, you might find that, it was of no avail as you had given the place a bad reputation.” The Immigration League ask Dr Arthur to refrain from seeking re-election as president. Dr Arthur declares that the letter was a private one ; that he was giving his counsel in coolquial terms ; and that nothing should be done to retard iho movement. He -did not near.* to suggest that pcopt’.o should be deceived. MELBOURNE, July 23. The Federal Government is interested in the trouble because some of the money voted by Parliament last year had gone to different portions of the Immigration League. Ministers rceog niso that good work has been done by Dr Arthur, and arc inclined to think that he allowed his zeal to nun away with discretion l . Nobody, they say, w-ants immigrants to come here in ignorance of onr conditions. The State Acling-Proniior, in commenting ion Dr Arthur's methods of at trading immigrants, said, ■“ I utterly disapprove of any method which will not boar the closest scrutiny. Our position should bo stated exactly a» it exists, and -then no 'newcomer can say he has been deceived either by painting things too 'attractively, or by the suppression of facts.”