Immigrants Wanted.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13054, 23 April 1910, Page 7

Immigrants Wanted.

TO THE EDITOR.,

Sir, —As a recent arrival to this country, and one of the victim’s of to-day’s farcical proceedings under the “Noxious Weed Act,” there are a few points in this case which I wish to bring before the notice of the public. New Zealand has often been “cracked up” as “God's own country,” the land of Liberty and the home of the free. It may be all that, but yet we find in a New Zealand Court that the evidence of two .bumptious Goverhment officials outweighs that of seven honest farmers. It would be more to the point if these same officials would rack their . stagnant, muddy brains for some practical means of solving the blackberry pest instead of persecuting and harassing those who are doing their level best to combat the evil. Ut course, the old gag of the Department is trotted out that some one must be made an example of, but it seems to me that, the Department is unfortunate in its examples, for a well-to-do landowner ■who sits tight and does nothing would surely make a better example than a struggling lessee, who is fighting the pest. Another point which calls for serious consideration is the fact that there is one interpretation of the law by a magistrate in ’xaihape, and a directly opposite interpretation by 'a magistrate in Wanganui. Who has erred? Now, a few' words on my own case. I arrived in this country from Scotland, and came induced here by the glowing statements about the brilliant opportunities in “God’s own country.” , I invested all my capital in the small farm I now occupy, which was then liberally sprinkled with the toothsome blackberry. Recognising the titanic task in front of me I toiled from sunrise to sunset to clear my farm, and thought I was making excellent progress. What was my surprise then to receive a summons to appear in Court for failing to clear blackberries. Is this how r New Zealand treats her settlers? If it is, may God help them. And this is God’s own country, the land of Liberty, and the home of the free; but it seems his “sable majesty” takes an uncommonly large share in the administration of her Laws. I have lived in Canada, the United States, and Australia. In all these I’ve had the advantage of a “square deal.” Can I say as much of New' Zealand. I’m afraid not. I have made an honest attempt to make a home here, and make a good citizen, and in return find the steel heel of officialdom on my neck. A feeling of disgust at one’s prospects is the inevitable result, and I shall feel glad when I see the last of New Zealand, fade over the traffrail of some outward bound steamer.—l am, etc.,

JOHN FORBES Aramoho, April 22nd.