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COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT.
Wanted, Immigrants of the Right
Kind.
BX O. A. GRAY.
Six months ago Federal and State poli
ticians were serenely pursuing the even
tenor of their way, quite satisfied that
there was nothing to worry about in tlie
political conditions of the country. Since
then, apparently, somothmg has happened,
because there baa lately been delivered
not one speech by a member of Parlia
ment in which reference was not made to
the overgrown state of the capital cities
and the need for a well-directed effort de
signed to make' tho people of the country
content with country residence. With the
awakening has come a general recognition
of tlie fact that first attention must be
given to tlie establishment of secondary
industries in suitable country centres to
absorb local raw products, to provide oc
cupations on the spot for the young people
whose interests are centred thereabouts.
Let us hope that the men who have
thu3 spoken arc in earnest, and that their
presessional speeches are an indication of
tho fine they intend to pursue in Parlia
ment. Country people are not entitled to
conclude that the people of the cities are
opposed to country development, or that
they encourage people to leave tbe country
for the purpose of seeking occupations in
the cities. It is a remarkable fact that in
practically every organisation in Sydney
and Melbourne tbat lias for its objects tbe
development of tbe industries of uio inter
ior ' and tlie offering of inducements for
people to remain in tuc country, tbe lead
ers and principal office bearers are city
residents. The man of the city who notes
the continued stream of produce from the
country being emptied into city depots for
tlie sustenance of city people understands
better, perhaps, than tlie country people
thfimseives how raucti city and country
are co-dependent. If the progress of the
city is to be substantial, there must be
a relative development of the primary in
dustries of tho country. The vitals of the
nation are supplied by the country, aud
the city man of common sense understands
oil about it. It is thus that there has
been formed in Victoria a settlers' league,
designee to find work for tbe immigrants
and give them a welcome to their adopted
country. I take off my hat to the public-
spirited men who conceived this means by
which something, however small, may be
done towards giving' proper attention to
rural interests.
Australia needs population — of the right
sort — to help in tho development of its
wonderful resources. Population is needed,
too, to help in making Australia seli-ro-
liant in the matter of detence and in other
directions. And more people are needed
ti- bring about a better distribution of the
load of debt. The more people in the
country the less the debt per bead, the
greater the revenue through the custom
house, and the greater the productions of
the country. Provided always, as 1 have
before said, tlat the immigrants are of
the right type. When a couple of hundred
thousand sons of Australia were over in
tlie firing line trade was slack m Aus
tralia, but immediately upon their return
money anfi work were plentiful. If only
100 new people came to the couutry addi
tional commodities are required by them,
and the nation . benefits to that extent.
Tilt average Labor niuu, however, has not
d.ved suiuoioutly deep into political
economy to understand that population
creates values and makes work. While the
Federal Government and the States have
been acting in co-operation for tlie purpose
of arranging ior the big immigration cam
py. gu which is now being launched, not one
leader oi Labor lias uttered one word in
support of new people coming to the coun
try. Sir Joseph Carrutbers this week
animadverted upon tlie fatuous cry oi thu
Labor leaders to "cut up the big estates,"
will, out tlie supplementary aid of a policy
that will put the right sort of people in
possession of the laud. A high oliicial of
Labor declared recently that every immi
grant helped to take the bread out of tbe
mouths of the people already in Australia.
This species of reasoning, pushed to its
logical conclusion, implies that if 50,000
immigrants came to Australia while there
was yet one union man out of work, the.
whole of tlie 50,000 would have to starve.
Tile attitude of Labor towards the immi
grant should be duly weighed when the
immigration policy is being iraincd. The
unionists tako up tile attitude that Aus-
traiia belongs to them. The only welcome
"immigrant" is the one that comes from
Russia or Chicago, with bran now ideas
for the speedy regeneration of the world a
la Bolshio. Tlie sort of immigrant that
washes to settle on the land or go in for
'the skilled mechanics is taboo with thein.
Organised unionism never seems to give a
thought at all to the development of the
country. I have met quite a large number
of people from tho old country who have
adopted Australia as their home. The bulk
of tlicin are skilled mechanics, and in every
way the right sort of newcomer. There
was a general complaint amongst tho men
that whenever they worked amongst large
bodies of men, especially. on the railways,
things were made lively for them, because
of prejudice against the old land, princi
pally because of its polities. With the
Australian workers every Englishman is a
'Pommy,'' and thus lie is derisively hailed
in the workshop. Some of these liai d-
workiug newcomers, goaded beyond endur
ance bv tlie Australian unionists, have
made back "home," prejudiced in turn
against Australia. Those people who re
turn because of the unfair treatment ac
corded them in Australia are not likely to
do any profitable advertising for us. But
the Australian pojple, to a large extent,
are as peculiar as the unionists. Without,
perhaps knowing it, tlioy do not leave tbe
impression with the new arrivals
that they arc wanted in this coun
try. Soinc of the . wives of English
working men who have settled in Aus
tralia spend a very lonely time. Per
haps the'r thoughts are so centred around
tho old land that they do hot take the,
necessary measures to make new. friends in
Australia. There is always an unsettled
feeling with them. Tiit explanation of the
majority oi them is that tiicdr own sex in
this country do not show a friendly disposi
tion towards them. Recently a batch of
200 workmen from the old country readied
Australia, but returned by tho next boat
because they had been told there was no
work hare for them. They hrid apparently
listened to tlie Sunday afternoon orators on
Yhrra-bank and in the Sydney Domain.
It is obvious, however, that . same
things must be done— that the "selected"
'immigrants must satisfy tlie Immigration
Office that they have settled ideas in re
gard to residence in Australia; the greater
number of tliern must bo men witn rural
experience and a liking for country lii'o
There is, of course, no objection to a cet-
tain number of skilled artisans also coming
to tlie country, but Australia does not
want adventurers or down-at-hecls Cook's
excursionists. Australia would better be
without new population than not have the
right sort. The cardinal object of the im
migration campaign is to assist in the pro
per development of Australia. If wc get
by the effort the type of men who ns tiie
pioneers ot this big ooutinent blazed the
trail for tlie settlers who eventually occu
pied the Led with pleasure, and profit, the
venture will have been a great one.
The best opportunity for the hew set
tlers will. come when the settlement policy
in connection with the groat national irri
gation scheme along tho valley of the Mur
ray has been decided upon. Provision is
to be made for 50,00-1 cultivators, repre
senting, with five people to a family, a
new population of - 250,000, sufficient in
itself to establish a new province. It
will, however, be a mistake 4o confine the
search for immigrants to Great Britain.
The Scottish people probably make the
best KctUera in the world, but the people
oi tbe Empire as a whole nre not dis
tinguished for their attachment to the
hind. On the other hand, the small free
holder of Holland, Drtimnrk and France
i? the backbone of their several countries.
Would not a sprinkling of these people do
much to bring about a greater love in
Australia for rural ocupations. In any
case, I think it would be wire to- endeavor
to settle them iu groups, so that the much
they would have in .common would assist
them to become tbe more readily recon
ciled to their new surroundings,' at the
some time providing them with that social
intercourse -without which life iu the Aus
tralian bush is not ell that it might be.
The immigranta who will come here to
help develop the country will 'be 'very
welcome, but the authorities must seo to
it that an occupation is ready for them as
soon as they arrive. More then rto-t the
branches of the settlers' leagues should see
to the proper reception of the new arri
vals. The United States and Canada
handle hundreds of thousands of immi
grants every year, yet . the people who
have the matter in hand do not permit one
of the strangers to wander aimlessly about
the country. As coon as they reach port
tlie friendly hand is extended to them;
many kindly acts are performed to make
them feel they really are wanted in the
country, and their farm or position is
quite ready for them. Immigrant agents
are detailed to accompany them to their
destination and sec them settled down.
More than that, their new friends in
their new country keep in touch with
them until they are settled and contented.
Tims received, they write home to their
frinds to come and join them, which they
do in large numbers. Tlie personal touch,
Hie warm throb of the heart, ia what the
stranger in a strange laud needs most.
Australia must make up its mind to lie
kind to the new people before inviting
them to come over here. 'Twould be
better to build hostels or reception houses
ior tlie strangers -than spend our good
cash on fountain;; and fash ponds at Can
berra.
Some years back a friend of mine derided
to try hia luck in the United States. After
a residence of three years there he re
turned to seo the old folk. I questioned
him as to his future intentions. "I'm going
back to the land where they ask no ques
tions provided a man can pay his way and
know; how to conduct himself," lut told
me'. "There arc no strangers over there.
I wasn't in tlie rity mors than a few hours
before I wa« interviewed, and my photo,
secured. Tho next morning, the people of
tlie place know all about me. Not that I
cared for that sort of tiling. But tho re-
nult was important. The next day tliey
found out the church . to which I was at
tached, and I wan taken along to tho
elcrgjmsn right away. There they had a
gymnasium, philharmonic society, debating
club, library, sports club, dancing circle,
oper.it ic society, .and every means by which
one could happily spend his time. It was
a city of 500.000 people, but within a week
I knew sufficient people to put interest
into my life, and I have not had a dull
moment since. And make no mistake, tlie
Ameiicam people are the kindest on earth.
Ail that is needed over there is to attach
yourself to same church, and the organisa
tion dees all thait ia needful for you."
I cummcnd the experience of my friend
in America to the Settlers' leagne, in the
hope tint something will be done to make-
tha immigration campaign a success, espe
cially that part of it tliat so .strongly
appeals to me, the development of the in
terior of your country and my country.
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