IMMIGRATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2325, 19 October 1908, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

A SALVATIONIST SCHEME. GENERAL BOOTH'S ENVOY-IN WELLINGTON. "We don't want any of General Booth’s 'submerged tenth’ in Australasia,” is the reply usually 7 made to .-all suggestions that the General’s emigration schemes should be extend-ed-to this part of the world. Colonel Joseph-Hammond lias come to Australasia as a special envoy of General Booth to explain what the emigration schemes really mean. It is not intended to send out to the colonies members of the. "submerged tenth,” states Colonel Hammond. The General has never done that, and does not mean to do it. The Army, however, considers that it is admirably fitted to select immigrants in Great Britain from the artisan and farming classes, who are employed but who are sufficiently ambitious to desire to improve their conditions in the dominions overseas. By assisting these smen, when they need assistance, to emigrate to the colonies, the Army hopes to provide opportunities at -Home for the "submerged tenth” which is at present without , employment. If the New Zealand Government should accept the offer which Colonel Hammond ccmes to make, the Army will, henceforward, select the immigrants who are needed in this country 7 , and who arc at present liable to be selected in a haphazard manner by officials who have no,t had the Arrays experience, for such work. The Army 'would 'receive a bonus for each immigrant seut out, the proceeds of such bonuses to be devoted solely tto the upkeep of the immigration department. Colonel Hammond stated that the people whom it was proposed to send to New Zealand would be mainly such ■as were '.prepared to go on the land. The immigrants would include farmers, farm laborers, gardeners, stablemen, carters, railway surfacemen, .navvies, .and women servants. Before it sends people abroad, the Army insists on. references, from their employers, ; as well as from its own officers. So strict'Js the selection that, after all the forms are filled in, .an independent embarkation officer may stop any intending passenger, land order reconsideration of his case, and with regard to 'immigrants for Canada, the commissioner in the Dominion is empowered to send back any man within six months who is found undesirable, the expense being borne by the Army’s Immigration Department. To immigrants who cannot pay their passage money, the Army advances loans. Already nearly £12,000 has, been lent in this way, and much of that r amount lias been already rev ; turned. Last year the estimated refund of loans was £2OOO, and ihe amount of £2500 actually camo in,' made up of small amounts.