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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 44

New Zealand as a Field for Emigration

New Zealand as a Field for Emigration.

Sir,—As an old North Countryman who settled here twenty years ago, and who recently came back to the colony after a visit to Darlington, permit me to say a few words as to the distress said to be prevailing in New Zealand. Although I have as good an opportunity as any person here of ascertaining its existence, if it had any, I know of none excepting such as may have been caused by drunkenness or misconduct—none caused either by want of work or misfortune. The unfortunate are not allowed to suffer distress here. Although we have no workhouses or poor rates we have benevolent institutions supported by voluntary contributions, subsidised by the Government. The committee of the Dunedin institution met yesterday. I was present, and so can vouch for the fact that not a single new application for relief was preferred. I know of no man out of work who is willing to work, and I have no hesitation in saying that if all the honest, steady and industrious unemployed working men who are now walking the streets of Darlington were landed in New Zealand to-morrow they would all find employment—not, perhaps, at their own particular trade—but they would find employment such as would place them for beyond the reach of anxiety or want. Now, I have not the slightest personal interest in making this statement: I have no connection with the Government in any way, and you know that I would be one of the last men to "do or say anything that would mislead my unfortunate fellow-men. I have always said, and I say still, that if a man is comfortably placed page 63 at home among his friends let him remain there, for, as some minds are constituted, it takes a large amount of prosperity to give an equivalent to them for the anguish experienced in severing the ties of family and house; but when employment fails, and such a field as New Zealand offers is presented to the true man or true woman—helpmeet of man—then I say it is a folly to hesitate. I feel my blood almost boil with indignation when I read in your letter that it is reported that many of the single girls who have been sent out have had recourse to the streets on their arrival in con sequence of their not having been able to procure employment. Nothing can be further from the truth. There is abundant employment for women in many branches. Any girl can have from £20 to £30 per annum as a domestic servant, even if she had never been in service before. Servants cannot be had, and I know for a fact that on the day when girls who have arrived by the recent emigrant vessels were open for engagement not only have all the girls been engaged, but that many (in the case of the last two ships, I believe, thirty or forty) persons who were in search of domestics had to leave the depot dissappointed, being unable to obtain them. Dressmakers are not to be had. My wife and daughters have had to wait five weeks before their dresses could be made. Washerwomen get 5s. per day and food, and cannot be had when wanted. I write these few remarks for publication, and send you my name and address, not for publication; but if any of your unfortunate fellow-townsmen should be induced to come out here through anything contained in these remarks, my name and address can be given them, and I am quite willing to-accept all the grave responsibility of the situation.—Yours, &c.

A. H. Ross.