NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 222, 19 September 1893, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

A FIELD FOR SETTLEMENT.

REPORT BY THE AGENT-GENERAL

(BY TELEGRAPII.—PARLIAMENTARY HE'

FORT UK.)

Wklmngtoit, this day. A return containing copies of correspondence between the Government and the Agent-Goneiiil on the subject of the encouragements or assistance ottered to small farmers and othora possessed of small capital to emigrate to this colony, has been printed. In the first letter published, tho A^enb-General olferH some remarks with regard to three classes of poraonß, to each of which ho considers the colony otters apucial attraction. They are tourists, poraons in receipt) of iixed incomes, and practical farmers with email capital. Aa regards making our colony known to the tourist, the Agent-General pays, among other things, tho only part that he could play in thia is to co-operate with the various tourist amenta in tho advertising tha colony as a wonderland and health rosort. He was thon in communication with them with the object of seeing whether they could not arrange some special circular tours, embracing; New Zealand, during the year of the World's Fair ab Chicago. Advertising had already been done by means of the New Zealand map posters, but more advertising was required. One of the best means of accomplishing this was to furnish guido books, maps, etc., to places of public recort, such as hotels, reuding rooms, and otlW similar places. Tiio various rnagaz:noarticls3,contributioi;stothepapers,and lectures given by persons acquainted with tha colony were looked on as an excellent means of educating tho public, and attracted many visitors, and it was to be hoped that literary contributions from the colony descriptive of the scenery and travel would largely increase. Among the concessions he BUggesta that might be given to persons with fixed incomes coming hero is the remission of Customs duty on personal effects. Tho loss to tho revenue by the remission of thia duty would be very small indeed, and it is difficult to see why New Zealand should noc offer the same inducement as other colonies. The colony which is our chief competitor for this class is

Tasmania. There, no duty is charged on personal effects, The Agent-General suggests that it would l>9 useless to him to have prospectuses of schools, property lists giving I house rente, and information of a social character. Acortainamountof thisis already here in his office, and will be collected by the officers in charge of the Bureau, but ho frequently finda publications which are freoly distributed in the colonies are not to i to be had here. He concludes thai no doubt a great many persons would go to jNow Zealand to permanently reside thero it the advantages .offered by the colony were better known, Ignorance regarding the colony is still stupendous, and much has to be dono in the way of bringing the social and educational advantages of New Zealand into prominence, rJ.'h6 class above all others which ho considers it advisable to attract is that of i Bixiall fanners with capital. He does not i suggest a return to tho old emigration policy, I but says, " I feel that New Zealand will be | ablo to obtain from the neighbouring j colonies for years to come a sufficient number of artisans and labourers to meet tho increased demand that may arise for that class of settlers, but the samo remark does not apply to farmers with capital able and willing to eottlo on the land, and cultivate the land with advantage to themselves and alao to those now in the colony. With regard to farmers, although something can be done by setting before them the many advantages of the colony as regards climate, fertility of soil, etc., yet I feel assured that in order to put the colony on a fair footing in competition with other colonies in procuring suitable colonists, it is very dcsirablo that sorao assistance should be granted to them similar to that which waa granted some years ago, when, after boing approved by tbo Agent-General and paying their capital into this Gffica, to bo repaid to them on their arrival in the colony, they were assisted to the extent of about £10 per adult in the cost of their passage. It will bo found that during the- two years this policy was in forco 395 souls wero sent out to New Zealand, and that capital in the aggregate amounting to £17,532 was reccivod at the office for repayment to tho owners on their arrival in the colony. The cost to the colony for passage money was £3,025." Ho recommends the Government granting pome assistance to the abovo class. Under this propoeal assistance from the shipping companies to the extent of £1G 15i per adult will bo available to persons going by second-class, and of from £5 13a to £7 to those tailing third-class passage, and the* reduction made by tho shipping companies 13 practically equal to the contribution mado by the Governmont,