MONEY TURNED AWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3264, 8 July 1911, Page 3

MONEY TURNED AWAY.

A PARTY OF AMERICANS

DISAPPOINTED.

lIOW AUSTRALIA LOST £30,000

Australia didn’t want a party of Amerioans who came here by the Zealandia at the end of April, though' they possessed between them £30,000 (states the “Sydney Sun.”) Being unwelcome —or, at least, that is what they lelieved—they turned back, and are mi t-lieir way to the States ogam. Mr Mitchell alone remains of the group, and lie is in a cheap position as packer, which he intends to quit with the next boat to America. Talking to a “Sun” reporter, Mr Mitchell said that he had worked in. England and in America, and lie came to ; Australia with about 30 other Americans hoping that he would be able to add to his bank account, and so build up a round sum which would enable him to spend the latter portion of Ins life in peace and quietness. But lie was doomed to disappointment. By occupatioiii a French polisher, lie came out intending to join the staff of another of the party who had £IO,OOO to establish a hardwood finishing or French polishing business. That man expected to find the wood he could turn out used in window decorations. He saw, instead' that the window dressing vas pood, and that the demand for the elaborate fittings did not exist here. In America, as much as £SOO was put into one window, and that made his business go. When lie found that his trade was useless to him, Mr Mitchell went m search of something efse, hoping that the check he received was only temporary. All that he could find, however, was a packer’s job at £2 2s a week, and he had trouble in getting t-liat. When lie applied the head man -questioned him about his experience, lie convinced him on that point. Then he wanted references. Ho had none, but he talked his prospective employer over again, and was- engaged at £2 2S a week, and he had trouble in getting that. Mr Mitchell finds consolation in the fact that living is cheap, hut he laughs at his wages, particularly when lie looks back to the country where at his trade lie saved £SOO in four years. It surprised Mr. Mitchell to find that men stayed 10, 15, 20, and even 30, years in the one position. He says that he has already’met a man who has l>cen working 30 years for £2 2s a week. In America the jobs go round. A man is not content to stay in the one place till lie'mildews. He goes o,utin search of new places, recognising that that is the only way to pick up new and to specialise ,in his business. Then, ae-ain the questions which an employer asks in Australia before engaging a man are quite opposed to the American idea. There a man is taken on, and ; s “up to” him. He makes good, or he goes out in the cold. Though some trades are superior here to the "'States, in that the hours arc shorter and the money better, Mr. Mitchell plumps for America as the finestcountry,’and adds insult t () injury by declaring that if tlie United States were left out of the question New Zealand would be the best place the world. Sydney semed to be like New 5 ork — ail classes drifted to it hoping to find fortunes awaiting them. Among the other moneyed men who have gone back to the States were a tailor who had £SOOO, but could find no opening; a hardware man with several thousands; a pastrycook, who could do nothing unless he worked as a journeyman for a long while; and a plumber, who was similarly situated. Unless Australia moves along, Mr. Mitchell says, and makes a determined attempt to retain the people who come here to enhance its wealth, it will receive a set-hack which it will taKe years to recover from. It can be reckoned with safety that the thirty men who turned back will not advertise this country well. Canada, lie added, would not do that, and it would pay Australia to get hold of Canada’s copybooks and follow the outlines of its policy closely.