The Press. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1870.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2157, 17 March 1870, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1870.

We are scarcely called on to discuss fhe proposals of the Government with regard to immigration, since they are avowedly made only "in default of some general scheme being initiated by the General Government of the colony." There are strong objections to any fresh provincial borrowing, and we hope it will be rendered unnecessary by the adoption of some satisfactory measure during the approaching session of the Assembly. If however the General Government and Legislature neglect their duty, of course the province will be bound to do the best it can for itself. But we trust the Provincial Council will not separate without putting on record in the strongest terms their opinion that the establishment of a general immigration system for the colony is imperatively required. And we hope, too, they will make it plain that the proposed loan for Canterbury is merely intended as a last resource, failing the general scheme which the country demands; that is not meant to take the place of, or to remove, even as far as Canterbury is concerned, the necessity for, | such a system; and that the amount proposed to be borrowed is not to be taken as representing iv any adequate manner the requirements of this part of the colony. We have on former occasions gone very fully into the subject of a colonial system of immigration — the urgent necessity for it, the advantages to be derived from it, and the details of its practical working. We have shown that the Provincial Governments, taking them all round, are incapable of conducting immigration; that it is a work too expensive for their means and too weighty for their ener-j gies. To leave immigration to the provinces is equivalent to stopping it altogether over a large part of the colony; in other words, is equivalent to consigning the greater part of the colony to hopeless stagnation. This state of things has a prejudicial effect upon Canterbury and Otago, which, thanks to their territorial revenue, have still some funds available. " Fop why," these two provinces are inclined to ask, " should we go to the expense of introducing immigrants when we have no certainty that they will remain with us ? Why should we spend our j money for our neighbours* profit?" There would be no difficulty on that

score if all the provinces were engaged in immigration simultaneously, for then each would import for itself whatever supply of population ite circumstances required. But as matters stand the complaiut is not unreasonable. .For as immigration is at an end in all the provinces but two, these two which still continue it are in fact carrying it on (since they have no means of preventing the immigrants from going to any part of New Zealand they choose) not on their own account only, but for the whole colony into the bargain. But let immigration be conducted on behalf of the colony, by a Board specially constituted for the purpose, with the expenditure defrayed out of the consolidated fund, and all these difficulties would disappear. To the poorer provinces such a system would be a godsend. Their impoverished finances would no longer be an obstacle to their receiving the influx of population which is their only chance of a revival of prosperity. The Board would direct the stream of immigration wherever the demand for labour and rate of wages showed that additional population was required, without regard to any considerations but the advancement of the colony as a whole. Where labour was wanted labour would be supplied; nor would any part of the colony lag behind the rest because its own immediate resources were insufficient for its selfdevelopment. Canterbury and Otago would profit equally with the others. More so, perhaps; for as their wants are larger, so they would make proportionately larger demands on the increased capital, and derive greater benefit from the superior appliances and organisation,that would be brought to bear upon the work of immigration. At the same time, when the entire expenditure was charged upon the colonial revenue, the at present wellfounded objection to one province profiting at another's cost would lose its force. Wherever immigrants settled the whole community would be gainers. For the consolidated fund represents the aggregate taxation of the country; and every new comer would become a contributor to that fund, and would thus directly—as well as indirectly, by adding to the producing power of the country —assist in lightening its burden.