The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News, and The Echo. MONDAY, APRIL 9. 1883.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3960, 9 April 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News, and The Echo.

MONDAY, APRIL 9. 1883.

For the cause that lacks assistance, Fct tha wrong that needs resistance. For the future in ths distance, And ths good that we can do.

In our London letter by the last San Francisco mail our correspondent mentioned the very decided tone adopted by tbe Lyndon "Times" ou the question of emigration. When a journal possessing the extensivo influence of the "Times" advocntos the wholesale migration of the agriculturalists of the country, matters must havo reached a very deplorable pass. In a land where the food supply is so far below tbo require, ments of the people, and the products of the farm realise higher prices than in any other country of tho old world, tho agriculturalist should receive the highest encouragement. But heavy rents and bad seasons have gradually cut off the English farmers' glimpse of bettor times, and the competition of frozen meat and foreign grain supplies Is robbing him of the good prices which alone made a bare subsistence possible. Under these depressing conditions, the "Times," instead of assailing the rapacity ond extravagance of the landowners, and demanding lower rents, tells the farmer to go abroad. Many have already acted on the injunction, and many more will follow; but wherever the " Times" directs their destination, the Australasian colonies will reap little from tbe exodus. With extraordinary lack of patriotism that journal, which professes to be par excellence the mouthpiece of British public opinion, persistently praises America, and decries the colonies of Australasia. It New Zealand is to gain aught from the migration ot British farmers to better lands, she will have to rely upon her own attractions and the exertions of her Government. That tbo time is now ripe for the putting forth of these exertions may we think be inferred from the following passage extracted from an article in the "Times" of 16th Eebruary last:—

) Nobody would wish our agriculturists to dismiss from their thoughts the very serious question whether they are likely to compete successtuily with their American, colonial, and foreign rivals. They had, indeed, better give their whole mind to the, question, and then abide by the answer. If they think they can compete, then by all means let them stay at homo. We havo no wish to drive or seduce : into exile those who can get on here, tut when people gravely i tell us that with the occupation, and even the possession, of many hundred acres they are ou the verge of bankruptcy, and see no escape, we cau only advise them to try a freer state of society, a more genial coil, and a more equal sun. There certainly are more openings in the Colonies or America than here, end even if we are not to believe all that we are told, land is plentitul ont there and good; bare subsistence is easy; there are fewer temptations; there are the charms of wild nature; and there is not the shame that here attends all condescensions below the rule of class. Why should they load themselves with the accumulated burdens and difficulties of an old world, a worn-out soil, and a social system charged with the cost of pauperism, crime, war, and centuries of debt ? The rising generation of agriculturists have abundaut opportunity ot answering for themselves whether they thall stay at liome and lace evils which their fathers assure them are growing upon us, or transfer themselves in a tow days, and for a few pounds, to regions where there is no accumulation or inheritence of man-made difficulties. We shall be excused if we look with a certain dismay to the chance of an entire class of helpless, moneyless, and witless agriculturists appealing to the Legislature to set them going again, and secure them from a repetition of their present reverses. We look to it with dismay, for we know they will not get what they ask for; indeed, the Legislature will not ba able to give it,