The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY. OCTOBER 9, 1908. IMMIGRANTS BY THE MILLION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2317, 9 October 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY. OCTOBER 9, 1908. IMMIGRANTS BY THE MILLION

It is a significant fact that when Australians or Now Zealanders make >1 trip to the Old World they are invariably impressed by the imperative need of their particular country making more extensive efforts to secure some of tho teeming population that seemingly would require little inducement to journey across tho Pacific. Tho latest visitor in, this connection is tho ex-Promior of New South Wales, Sir .Joseph Carruthers, who, while completing his course as a graduate of the Empire, is having his eyes opened to tlio need of a vigorous immigration policy. Not that Sir Joseph was while Premier absolutely blind to Australia’s needs in this respect. But a change lias come over the scene as the result of his peregrinations abroad. While in office tho ex-Premier placed a small sum on tlio estimates for tho purpose of assisting immigrants, and during his term of office some hundreds of newcomers were landed from overseas. Now ho would supplement his own earlier efforts and talk in millions. He lias no longer any time for mere thousands; it is millions Australia needs. Another thing that Sir Joseph has learnt in the course of his expanding education abroad, which ho apparently failed to fully realise before, is that in connection with Australia’s immigration campaign it is essential that the States and Commonwealth should not only work together but that the Commonwealth should be in charge, subject to the advice of and in harmony with tried and trusty representatives of the States. It is the opinion of the ex-Premier that if the Federal •authorities landed a million people from abroad, and made it obligatory upon the Federal and State Governments to assist them till such time as they could assist themselves, the obligation would not last more than a month, when so great would, be the boom created by their arrival that the Commonwealth would bo ready for another million forthwith. This may be overstating the case, but it is significant of tho trend of public feeling in Australia that the Sydney “Morning Herald” cordially welcomes Mr. Carruthers’ proposals. Commenting on the matter it says: It is a matter of opinion as to how many immigrants Australia could readily absorb in a short t time without dislocating existing machinery. There may be a happy mean between Sir Joseph Carruthers’ millions and the few hundreds that have arrived hero State assisted so far. Just think what an extra million of people would mean ! They would all require to be clothed and fed and housed; their children to be schooled, and if they increased at a more or less normal rate at tho end of the first year ‘after their landing there would be an extra 20,000 young Australians to bo provided for, potential producers and consumers and defenders of their native ■ soil. Our ‘national progress is at present checked by tho small increase .in our population. There are limits to the producing capacities of each man. Double the people and production may not bo doubled, but it will bo very materially increased. By increasing our population we can eliminate time as a factor in the early years of our national life. Some day Australia may bo a power among tho nations of the world. That day may be one or ten centuries hence. With us it rests whether the progress be fast or slow, always remembering that if we elect tho snail’s pace some more powerful neighbor may take advantage of our slowness, and himself take a hand in nation-making in this fair land. There is a good deal in the foregoing that can very aptly be applied to New Zealand. We cannot, of course, talk in millions, but the principle that ia largely increased influx of immigrants would naturally tend to increase the prosperity of the existing population is as sound for the Dominion as it is for the Commonwealth. It would certainly make for greater security from foreign attack.

The plumbing cl a.a sill meet at tho Technical School 10-night. *

The Chief Postriiuster was advised yesterday that tho coaches via Mo•rcro were unable to leave Wairoa owing to Stewart’s Crossing being unford able.

Tho annual general meeting of tlio Poverty Baj l Cricket Association will he held in the Farmers’ Union Club rooms this evening at 8 o’clock. A full attendance is requested.

A general meeting of the KnitiCity Football Club will be held in the Royal Hotel this evening, at 7.30, for tho purposo of making a presentation to the club captain (Mr. J. J. Martin), and of arranging a fancy dress match for Labor Day.

«Mr. Carrington’s thoroughbred stallions Miiiltilid and Gaaeley wore on view at the Matawlioro saloyartls yesterday, and were greatly admired by the farmers generally, who commended Mr. Carrington for importing such good horses to the district.

A postcard addressed to ■“Members of the Gisborne Club, God’s Own Country,’ reached its destination yesterday. The postmark <on the stamp is Cork, and underneath the address is written, apparently by tlio postal authorities, “Try New Zealand.”

•' At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., a first offending Native was charged with being drunk in charge of a horse, and was fined 10s, with 7s costs, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Another Native named Tolii Parapara was fined a similar amount for drunkenness with 2s costs or 48 hours’ hard labor.

A meeting of the W.C.T.U. was hold in the Presbyterian Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, when Nurse Harker delivered a lecture on “The Protection of Infant Life.” There was a largo number of ladies present, and the lecture was most interesting and instructive., At tho conclusion Nurse Harker was accorded a vote of thanks for her address.

One of tho features of the Labor Day sports next Wednesday in aid of tlio proposed Maternity Home will bo a baby show, for which prizes will bo given by the Hon. J. Chrroll and Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald. There will also numerous guessing competitions and other attractions. A social will be held in His M:\iesty’s Theatre in tho evening.

A well-attended meeting of jSLo Carpenters’ Union was held last evening. The secretary reported having sent the filial papers in connection with, the Arbitration Court, but tho feeliug was expressed that the proposals agreed to by the delegates and by a subsequent meeting of the Union would also be affirmed by the Builders’ Union, thus dispensing with the necessity of appearing before the Court. Three new members were proposed during the evening.

The Salvation Army Bioscope was shown at Waerenga-a-hika last evening before a crowded audience. The pictures met with a flattering reception, the views of the American fleet being greatly admired. Tho bioscope will be shown in tho Ormond Hall this evening, and on Saturday evening in His Majesty’s Theatre. On Saturday afternoon a special children’s matinee will be given in the theatre, and on Sunday evening the “Passion Play” films will be exhibited in the theatre after church. The box plan for the performances to be given in the theatre is now open at Miller’s.

Evidence was taken at tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning in the case of John Keith (Mr. J. Blair) against Chas. Taylor (Mr. T. Alston Coleman), furniture dealer, claim for £2 15s for alleged wrongful dismissal. The evidence for the plaintiff showed that lie had been engaged by defendant at £2 per week to drive a cart, and do odd jobs. He was dismissed after working for a few da.ys, without notice. The defendant claimed that the plaintiff had not carried out his duties' in a satisfactory manner, and had done damage to certain furniture and harness. The evidence was of a most contradictory nature, but His Worship gave judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, with costs amounting to £1 12s.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the case of IT. Anderson (Mr. Hei) v. Geo. B. Carter, amount claimed £2 2s 6d, with costs 10s. In the judgment summons case W. A. O’Meara (Mr. Bright) v. Richard Cogar, an order was made for tho immediate payment of the amount of the debt and costs, £lO, forthwith, in default 10 days’ imprisonment. Mr. Finn applied for a rehearing of the case of W. A. O’Meara v. J. H. Bell, pointing out that when- the order was made defendant was not aware the case was coming on at that date. His Worship granted the application, but owing t 0 the indisposition of the plaintiff, the rehearing was ‘adjourned until next Thursday.

In an anticipatory articlo in the New York “Evening Post” as to what the American Fleet might expect to see in New Zealand, Mr Freeman Lloyd says:—“At Rotorua girls will dive and turn in poofs of mud for pieces of silver. They are as graceful as otters or seals in this thermal liquid of tlio consistency of thick pea-soup. It is indeed a sight to watoli them as they turn over and manage to get the coin, again coming to the surface with the silver between their pearly teeth, their long straight hair almost typifying the imaginary mormaid. Tho Maori ‘is quick at making friends- He will make the -advance without any ceremony, and ask his questions in succession. From where do you come? Who are you, and wliat are you? The Maori wants to know and he will bo informed. Mayhap one or two of those you meet iu tho native villages can read. Then you will become a sort of walking bureau lor inforina-' tion ou all tho current subjects of the day. If thero should happen to bo a war in nrogress, you will recognise the old Adam of fighting that courses through the veins of the red.man of tlio southern seas who clubbed his enemy to death with his green marble, hammerliko weapon, and then aio. him.”

“COLD-BLOODED PERJURY.” A powerfully-built man named William McDowell opposed an application for a separation order from his wife in tho Auckland Court last week.

The applicnat, who was respectably dressed and carried a baby in her arms, narrated a pathetic story. She stated that, slip was married to respondent at Liverpool 16 years ago, and after soven years’ residence came out to New Zealand. The defendant ultimately gave way to drink, and to keep the home going sho hud liad to take in boarders. He had not- been living with her since January last. She had been obliged to take nn order out against him for the maintenance of herself and four children, but had only received £8 in nine months. The defendant, in evidence, swore that he had been saving up his money for liis children, and had it in trust. When asked for further particulars, lie at : first declined to answer, and then admitted that all liis savings consisted of wliat he had paid into Court. “So you hive told mo a deliberate falsehood,” commented the magistrate. It is cold-blooded perjury, that is what it is.” Tlie application was granted, and the magistrate advised the applicant to tike proceedings to see that tho maintenance orders were enforced.

We have it on good authority that President Roosevelt has expressed a desire to visit the Dominion after the next election, and it has been decided, if nothing occurs to alter his arrangements in the meantime, to notify him that this week it’s sewfng machine oil cans for threepence each at Parnell’s popular Saturday sales, tenth, inst. only.

Nothing is no., heard of the participants m the recent Wellington bakers’ “strike.” A reporter made inquiries the othor day and was told that most of the mon ihad either gone away or had turned to other trades. Mr IL. F. Allen, secretary of the Mastor Rakers’ Union, said that none of thorn had been reinstated, excopt those who were fortunate enough to bo taken on during the early -sta gos of the trouble.

The Australasian Medical Congress, which will open on October 19 in Melbourne, and which Drs Mason, Pollen, and Pom arc, of Wellington, will attend, is a triennial institution. The congress will bo divided into eleven sections, each with presidents and vice-presidents of its own. l)r Mason will preside over the sanitation division of the congress. General meetings will bo hold for the discussion of various medical problems, addresses will bo read by presidents, and a variety of questions will bo dealt with by the separate sections- The Go-vernor-General, the Admiral, and the Governors of tlio Australian States, New Zealand, and Fiji, aro patrons of the congress, and an alluring social programme his been drawn up.

With reference to the proposal to establish a separate Court of Appeal in New Zealand, it is of interest to note that all the • colonies and the South African iStates, have a tribune especially for appeal work. These colonies, which have not independent Courts of Appeal, look upon the Privy Council as their Appeal Court. Only in recent years has there been a special Appeal Court in Australia. When the Court of Appeal was established in New Zealand—46 years ago—the population did hot exceed 100/000 and there were four judges. At the/ present time the population is close upon 1,000,000, and there are only six judges. Excluding vacations, onethird of the judges’ time is taken up with appeal work. The-question is, whether the time lias arrived for the specialisation of the work in New Zealand.

According to notice, Mr. A. It. Glover moved at the last meeting of the Auckland Board, “That the wages of the Board’s workmen should be increased from 8s to 8s 6d per day.” He urgor that with the increased house rent and the higher cost of living, the men should receive more wages. Private employers paid moije than Bs, and the Board should set an example. The Wellington Board paid 8s 6d to its men. Air. J- Keen seconded the motion. Air. W. J. Napier supported it and said the cost of living had gone up nearly 20 percent, and the difference between house rents in Wellington and Auckland was rapidly diminishing. The* rent for a cottage near the oitv would be found to- .be nearly as high as in V'elling'on, and where a house was rented at, 8s a week a few years ago, tha present rent ranged from 11s to 14s. Some of the men. were highly skilled, and lie tlioughe the engineer should have discretion in paying the more highly-skilled workers. After further discussion the matter was referred to the Board in committee to report.

During his visit to Loudon, Air W.H. Hamer, engineer to the Auckland Harbor Board, had an' interview with representatives of the Admiralty regarding the proposed coaling station at Auckland. He received the following communication, which has been forwarded by him to the chairman of the Board (Hon. E. Mitclielson): —“With reference to your interview in connection with a proposed coaling station at Auckland; although the Admiralty _ would be glad to be furnished with information regarding any coaling depot which may be established for commercial purposes, it is not probable that such a denot will be needed for naval requirements, and the Admiralty would b‘e glad to be furnished with information regarding any coaling depot which may be established for commercial purposes, it is not probable that such a depot will he needed for naval requirements, and the Admiralty would not bo prepared to give any financial help towards establishing it.” A further letter from the Admiralty director of works to Air Hamer stated that it was unlikely that the Admiralty would contribute anything towards the interest and sinking fund on the cost of providing machinery, etc., for such a depot.