Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1903. AN "ALIEN IMMIGRATION" SCARE IN ENGLAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7405, 9 March 1903, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1903. AN "ALIEN IMMIGRATION" SCARE IN ENGLAND.

Nothing illustrates the vastness of tho change that industrial competition is bringing about more forcibly than tho growing disapproval of alien immigration. Not merely in new countries and recently settled colonies is tho feeling becoming intense ; it is also taking root in England. It used to bo a specially proud boast of tho British nation, that its Hag sheltered all tho victims of persecution and mis-government who chose to lice to its shores. And so long as tho inllux of foreigners made no perceptible difference to the labour market, people were content to exercise this traditional hospitality. True it was that that hospitality was shamefully abused, and years ago there wero thoughtful persons who observed with regret, almost bordering on dismay, the intermittent I stream of immigration that bore to British ports, French refugees, persecuted Jews, aud political often dors of all shades from all parts of Europe. Foreign nations, with whom Great Britain had no real quarrel, expostulated in vain with tho British Government, for allowing Leicester Square and its purlieus to become an asylum for conspirators and assassins. These longhaired and sparingly-washed gentry were sheltered by the British Hag, and we were ready to light any nation, or combination of nations, that would dare to violate tho Sanctuary that we extended to these nondescript refugees. We have vivid recollections of specimens of this class in London, when bearded and ringlettcd foreigners wore uncommon enough in the mciuropolis to attract a good deal of observation. But they used to be pointed out as "poor victims of tyranny," who wero enjoying the protection of the Union Jack. But, of lato years, the stream of this very undesirable immigration has grown broader and more rapid, and strangers havo come over in batallions; hungry, skilful, prepared to live like Chinamen, and to underbid British labour in e;yery department. Even the London " coster " has' found himself elbowed off tho street jthat had been his special domain for centuries, by ho>-des of unclean creatures from Germany, Poland and Italy. Nay, the very thieves complain that, in their' particular walk of life, thero is now " no room for an honest Britisher"; for burgling, forgery and other departments of unlawfulness have been taken up by the stranger. The recent Bank of England note forgeries, for which nino foreign Jews havo just received exemplary sentences, has revived the antiforeign sentiment, drawing even from a learned Judgo somo pungent remarks. Mr Justice Darling, who presided at the trial, at the Old Bailey, said, at the closo of the trial, he " did not think there was any other country in this world where men liko tho prisoners would be allowed .to enter without injury. They did no honest work, and simply preyed, on the country which gave them refugo. It was not for him to suggest legislation; but it was certain that, as tho result of this trial, and other matters, public attention would be directed to tho question whether it was desirable that, without injury or hindranco of aiiy land, disreputable foreigners, when tho Continent became too hot for them, should bo permitted to j come to England, and scil.C !« i«0 J'<ast end of London. i

The offenders wero mostly Eussian Polish Jews; and tho evidence adduced at tho trial, indicatod the oxistenco of widespread criminality, which, probably iaclciny j.ho opportunity of displaying H.olf in tho countries from which tho

prisoners came, found an extensive field in their adopcil home. Wo may well applaud the action of colonial statosnion who aro devoting their onorgics to warding off this sort of invasion from tho British colonies, and wo hope the matter may receive also tho earnest attention of tho Imperial authorities. Ton Masterton Branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union has drawn attention to tho .hortngo of truck's on our local railway, and purposes taking steps to again urgo ; upon tho authorities tho neecn.il.y of increasing the supply., Wo fear thai this handicap, in a measure, is tho outcome of a still moro serious difficulty. Our railway ia carrying a greater amount of trul'lio than it is fitted to cope with. Tho Government, somo years ngo, diverted tho natural through traffic of the Wei-lington-Jlaiiawatu Railway on to its own line, which was ill equipped to carry tho additional load. Since then our railway has been staggoring under difficulties which it ought not to havo had to encounter. Tho irregularity of pas_s.iig.i--trains, mid tho disorder of goods, Lathe havo become chronic, and will continue to bo so until tho Government and the Wullington-Manawatu Railway come to terms. If the Government took over the Company's lino, we should be better served in Masterton, both as regards passenger and goods traffic.