MISS PARNELL ON EMIGRATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 429, 1 July 1881, Page 15

MISS PARNELL ON EMIGRATION.

A LARGE land demonstration was held in Castletown-Kenneigh, county Cork, on Sunday, April 30, at which Miss Parnell attended. The following passages in Miss Parnell's speech, dealing with emigration, are taken from the Cork Daily Herald :—: — 1 think that one portion of the Land Bill is dangerous, and that a warning may not be amiss, especially to the women, as, if they are deluded by this portion of the bill they will suffer far more than the men. There is a clause in the Land Bill empowering the Government to pay passages to Canada or other countries— l am not sure whether the United States of America are included. Now, I have never been in Canada, but I have been in the Uuited States, and I know this much — that whatever disadvantages there may be in emigrating to America, they are doubled and trebled and quadrupled in Canada. Last year, fortunately for this country, work was plenty in America, but only a very short time before the famine of last year work had been very scarce in America. When I was going to America three yearp ago there was already great distress in Ireland about that time, and yet at that time there were as many Irish emigrants returning to Ireland as there were going out, bacause there was distress in America amongst the working people there also. Well, that might be a warning to you all not to rush to America because you hear of some one getting on there, because everyone who goes makes it harder for those who are there already (hear, hear). Times of prosperity don't last for ever in America— there come times when work is scarce, and then you would be coming back here to look for work, and that you would find, perhaps, if you stopped at home and put your shoulders to the wheel you might never have to emigrate at all (cheers). Now I often think if Irish fathers and mothers knew how hard the lot of the poor often is in America, and how bard they have to toil for the money they send home to Ireland a Voice : For the landlords. Miss Parnell : They would not be so ready to take this hardearned money to give it to the landlords (cheers). Now, you hear a great deal about the beautiful land that is to be had in America for nothing, but you don't hear of how you are to get there. Yon don't hoTiT of who is co keep you for a year after you net there, while your ■<Tiops are growing. You don't heir of who is to give you money to build a house for yourselves aud your cattle. Now, it has b>:ea calculated that even if you got to America cost free — even if this generous Government paid your passages out there — if you want to go where you can have a farm of your own. you would require from £200 to £500. A Voice : We won't emigrate at all. Miss Parnell : I think if all Irish tenants had from £200 to £500 a- piece they would stop at home and live on it for from two to five years while they starve out the landlords, and then, after they had that done, they would have their own laad for nothing (applause). But, gentlemen, even if you have this £200 or £500, don't suppose that it would Ye an advantage to you. I don't want you to suppose that if you were to take this amount to America you would be happy for ever afrer wards. I will tell you why. My opinion is that the climate of America is a very disagreeable one to live in. I know that some persons differ from me, but remember that I am Irish born and bred (checis), and you also are Irish born and bred, and what one person who is used to an Irish climate finds, it is veiy likely that a great many other people who are used to the Irish climate will find also. It is a very hot country in summer, and it is a very cold country in wiater. There is another impediment that a farmer has to struggle against in America which be lias not to meet here. In

this country there are different kinds of insects, but you know them all ; you know how to take measures against them. The insects in Ireland are the descendants of those that were in the ark with Noah (laughter) ; but in America it is not so — there is a new kind created every three or four years A Voice : The landlord is the worst insect in Ireland (applause). Miss Parnell : ADd the remarkable fact about each new species is that each can eat up more crops than the last one. You all remember hearing of the Colorado baetle, and I believe he had a terrible appetite (laughter). But last j'car when I was leaving for Ireland there was a new insect invented called the army worm, and he could eat twice as much as the Colorado beetle. As to the next insect that comes I don't know what he will be like.