IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS BILL.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2670, 20 November 1871, Page 3

IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS BILL.

, T _ ' [From Hansard.] ,w F GfßO^K—Sir.. I do not propose to aetain the House, in moving the second reading of the Immigration and Public Works Act Amendment Bill, by any lengthened remarks, because it is really a Bill framed to give legislative effect to these proposals of the policy of the Government which were ti tvii ll - the P ublic works statement, and the Kill has been divided into parts for that object. Part II relates to the Board of Works and its constitutional powers. Parts ill to IX relate to railways in their different branches — main railways, coal railways, branch railways, and provisions for local rating and conveyance of land for railway purposes. Part X relates to coal mines, and Part XI to immigration. With regard to immigration, it seemed to be the impression that the' Government really did not recognise the importance of immigration in connection with the scheme for carrying out public works and especially railways. I beg to remind the House that, up to this time, the Government cannot act with respect to immigration unless they receive a request from the Superintendent of a province, and the consent of the Supcriumtendent is required before immigrants can be placed on the land. That state of things is proposed to be done away with in the Bill; and under it the Government will be empowered, on the recommendation of the Board of Works, to introduce immigrants irrespective of thc provincial authorities, and also to settle immigrants on the land in the different provinces. I will recapitulate to the House what we have done with regard to immigration up to the present time, in order to dispel any apprehensions that may exist that the Government have not properly recognised the importance of immigration. The Government consider that public works and immigration must go hand in hand, each one being ancillary to the other; and believe that public works without immigration, or immigration without public works—both being carried on simultaneously—would be disastrous to the colony. So early as January last, after the session was over, the Government invited the attention of Superintendents to the subject of immigration ; but from "various causes—one especially, arising, I think, in consequence of the. general election taking place at that time, aud the uncertainty what direction public opinion would take with reference to immigration—some delay occurred in the answers of the Superintendents. The Superintendents have now submitted proposals, and the Government have lost no time in carrying into effect those proposals as far as they legally could. The first province to take advantage of it was Canterbury, and the Superintendent recommended the introduction of 650 adults. That proposal was immediately sanctioned, and the number has since been increased to 1,050, and one shipload of these immigrants arrived a few weeks ago, and others are on their way. The Province of Wellington also submitted' a recommendation for the introduction of from *2000 to SOOO.adults, but thc Government did not feel themselves justified in sanctioning so large a number, excepting on the understandtng~i-hat -tliaJntrndnction should extend over two years. Some had been sent for, and one shipload arrived six weeks ago. The provincial authorities of Wellington; have given every facility for granting special settlements in connection with the introduction of immigrants. The next province was Hawke's Bay, and it has also given every facility for the formation of special settlements in connection with immigration. A request has been made by that province to the General Government to provide about 500 nominated immigrants and 100 single women, aud by the outgoing mail in a day or two instructions will be sent to procure Scandinavian families and single men and women to the number of 1050 adults, for that province for settlement on the recently acquired Seventy-Mile Bush. Otago did not until recently submit any regulations, but had continued to supply labour through the provincial agencies, land instructions have been sent to the General Government Agent in London to secure for Otago 1950 adults, and he was directed to avail himself, as far as possible, of the service and advice of the Agent of that province. Marlborough and Auckland submitted regulations a few weeks ago, which have been approved of by His Excellency; but the number to be sent for have not been suggested by the Superintendents, and would probably depend on the action taken by the Legislature this session with reference to immigration. There have been sanctioned for the various provinces the following numbers : — Canterbury, 1050 ; Wellington, 2500 ; Hawke's Bay, 1650, and probably 300 more; Otago, 1950; making a total of 7000 to 8000 adults. Of course it is uncertain whether that large number can be procured at once, for it depends on the feeling in England towards New Zealand. The Government have, as soon as possible, taken all steps in their power to introduce immigrants to the provinces upon the terms suggested by the Superintendents of these provinces, and have taken every opportunity for making provision for the settlement of these immigrants that have been and will.be introduced in connection with the public works. This Bill, the second reading of which 1 ask, will increase the facilities and power of the General Government for the proper conducting of immigration and the construction of public works, and I can assure the House that we have earnestly endeavoured to give effect to the policy of last session, and fully understand that it could not be successfully carried out unless there was a large increase to the population of the countiy. I make these few remarks in order to dispel tbe misapprehension that seems to have existed in the minds of some hon. members, that the Government were overlooking the importance of immigration, and were addressing themselves solely to the construction of public works a_4 railways. Mr CARRIKGTON said the Colonial Secretary had been good enough to tell the House what course had been pursued by all the -*ovinces except Taranaki, and he would sk the hon. gentleman to state now what course' had bee ll tek en DT tne representative of that province. In that province there were no \?» than 1,400,000 acres of the very best land in the colony lying upon the mar_in of the sea shore, in every way suitable for the settlement of immigrants. Mr Ron_ESTON" would like to say a few words with reference to the Bill the second reading of which had been moved by the Colonial Secretary. It was undoubtedly one of the most important measures that had ever come before the House, and he must say he did not think the remarks of the Colonial Secretary at all equal to the importance of the various subjects treated by the Bill. One of the most extraordinary parts of the Bill was that relating to the Board of Works, but the hon gentleman had told them nothing I at all about that, and they had only heard about immigration. He defended the Government against attacks that had been made against them for not giving themselves heart and soul to the matter of immigration. The honorable gentleman had implied that delay had been caused by elections going on, and by the Superintendents not having given the advice it was requisite for them to give, in order to enable the Government to act in a way they would wish to do with regard to immigration. He informed the House of what had been done or not done np to the present time, but they had expected to bear what the Government intended to do in future as to tbe number and manner of location of immigrants that would be introduced. He would warn the House that there was _reat ground for apprehension on this matter of immigration. There was great danger of bringm" difficulties and distress that were little contemplated upon the country, under ifce jystera of flooding the pountiy

, with •immigrants,- unless those "who undertook their introduction were thoroughly well acquainted with the wants of the country. He did not regard with the unmixed satisfaction that appeared to pervade the miud of the Colonial Secretary the introduction of large numbers of immigrants. He believed that no system of colonization would be successful unless it was adapted to the wants of the people and and the requirements of New Zealand. He had been exceedingly disappointed with the speech of the Colonial Secretary, for he had thought they would have been told what was the general scope of the : ' Bill—what the Governmeut meant to do—how they would direct that vast expenditure they spoke of on immigration, that was to entirely change the aspect of affairs in the colony. They would, perhaps, import a shipload or two of immigrants, and laud them in Wellington, where they would be employed at os per day. Well, all parts of the country would be glad to take anj number of immigrants on those terms, but that was not the sort of immigratioathey wanted. If the Government commenced to import immigrants, they would find they had a task to perform that would be very likely to meet with very considerable checks before any long time had elapsed. Mr Reynolds regretted that he had not had an opportunity of reading the Bill carefully, and making himself thoroughly acquainted with its provisions. He did not, therefore, intend to make any lengthened remarks upon thc second reading, but should most likely refer to it more in detail before going into Committee. He did not think the Bill was such a one as ought in its details to receive the support of the House. He considered that no member of the Board ought in any way to be connected with politics, and yet he saw by the Bill that it was intended to repeal the Disqualification Act so far as members of the proposed Board were concerned. He had fought for the passing of the Disqualification Act for a number of years, and could not, as fai as he was concerned, consent to having it repealed in any degree, It was not his intention to go into the details of the Bill at the present time, but would simply intimate that he would most strenously oppose the proposed partial repeal of the Disqualification Act. Mr Gillies—Sir, I do not mean to oppose the second reading of this Bill, because I recognise the fact that it is one which is necessary to carry out the scheme of the Government ; but I cannot allow the second reading to pass by without calling attention to the very important character of its provisions, and urgiug on hon. members the propriety of looking carefully at these provisions before it goes into committee. It seems to mc most extraordinary that such a Bill as this should be thrown down before us without one word of explanation. There are no doubt many good provisions in it, but the House has had but very little time to read it, —indeed, it was only distributed the day before yesterday,—-and under the circumstances it would only have been fair that the Government should have put before the House its leading features. But nothing of the sort has been done, and, as has been said by thc hon. member for Avon, the only statement the Colonial Secretary has seen fit to make has been in reference to immigration, in the matter of which the Superintendents of the various provinces have been visited with blame because the immigration scheme has not been put in working order earlier. But the fact lies the other way. The provinces have been pushing the Government in this matter rather than the Government thc provinces. I refer now to Parliamentary Paper D. No. 3 to show that this is the fact, and that the provinces have beeu held back by the Government. It is n:* .:.'.., th"-*- p fovp for the Minister of Public Works to endeavor to screen him- ' self at tho expense of the provinces. 1 do not now charge any delay against that hon. gentleman, because I can quite understand that it is no easy matter to introduce a scheme of immigration, and I shouid not say anything about it but that he has thrown the whole blame of the delay upon the provinces. I will give an instance of the delay which has arisen in the case of Auckland. On the 21st November last, certain resolutions in reference to this matter were forwarded from Auckland to thc Government, to which a reply was forwarded in December following. On the 24th January a further notice was forwarded to the Government, and resolutions were also forwarded on thc 31st January, to which a reply was given by the Colonial Secretary in thc following June, that nothing could be done in the matter until the return of the Colonial Treasurer from Europe. Under these circumstances, it cannot be said that any blame is attachable to the provincial authorities. I merely mention this to show that if there is any blame in the matter, it attaches to the General Government and not to the Provinces. But, entirely apart from any such consideration, hon members should look at the provisions of this Bill. If they do so, they will sec that in part 11. provision is made for the creation of a Board of Works. Such a Board was suggested to the Government last session, as something to prevent the scramble for money likely to arise, and to interpose an independent tribunal to check that tendency; but, on looking at the constitution of this Board, I think hon. members will hesitate before they consent to its creation, when they see that, amongst other things, its president is to be appointed for life, for that is the real meaning of the words, " shall hold his office during good behaviour." But there is not only to be a president, but five members of the Board, each with a salary of £500 ayear. Besides this central Board, which, it appears, is to be at Wellington, there arc to be sub-Boards, consisting of not more than three persons, according to Clause 14. The members of these sub-Boards are not to have any fixed salaries, but only such as the Board may from time to time decide ; and then, in order to put the Board completely under the Government, it is provided, in Clause 15, that the Disqualification Act, IS7O, shall not apply to any persop by reason of his being appointed a member of thc said Board or of any sub-Board, with a salary attached thereto. Then I find that this act is not to apply to any roads in the North Island except with the sanction of the Governor, which means the Native Minister, and that the control of all railways, roads, waterworks, and other public works, is to be in the Minister of Public Works. There is also a matter which I wish that hon. gentleman to explain—whether the power to alter railways, kc, is to be taken out of the hands of the Legislature ; because, according to section 23, it appears to mc that the Board may, with the consent of the Minister, authorise "the construction of such railways. From this I gather that railways may be made without the consent of the General Assembly. If this be so—l do not say it is so—l think it a very serious matter, and one which the House should very carefully look to. Then, there is provision in clause 2-1 that the cost of the construction of all railways shall be charged against the land fund of the province in which they are. In the South Island this means the land fund ; but in the North, and especially in Auckland, it means the goldficlds revenue. I can scarcely believe that this was the intention of the framer of the Bill, but that will be the effect. Again, in clause 26, sub-Bection 5, it is provided :— "In the event of the land fund of the province not being sufficient to meet such charges, tbe same shall, if the General Assembly shall by an Act to be hereafter passed so provide, be met and recouped to the colony out of moneys to be raised by such a rate to be made and levied in such manner and on the owners and occupiers of land within such district as the General Assembly shall in such Act or any other Act provide." I apprehend that this is a very extraordinary provision, that the Province is to have no say in thc matter, and that a railway may be constructed in the most extravagant manner and the Province be made liable for the whole amount. As to branch railways, and the rating of property for such puposcs, I consider that perfectly fair, inasmuch as these are to be made only on the request of the owners of the land contiguous to the line. I now come to that portion of the Act which refers to the aiding the development of coal mines and water works on goldfields, which I think the

House should very Carefully consider before it commits itself to it. I refer to section 8-1. which provides that money may. be lent from the public works account, under the direction of the Board, to individuals, to enable them to work such undertakings. I allude especially to that part which allows sacfi" moneys to be advanced for the examination and prospecting for coal in that portion of New Zealand between Mount Rochfort and the Buller., I do not see why-these two particular districts .should- be soleeted in preference to any others, nor why moneys should be advanced to private persons for the development of coalmines more than anything else. Then, as to aiding waterworks ou goldfields, some objections exist. Private individuals arc to be subsidised, and no limit is placed upon the amount of money to be advanced. Last session a sum of £300,000 was fixed upon and it was stated that such au amount was insufficient for a water supply, and yet this small amount may be frittered away by giving loans to companies instead of adopting a large aud general scheme of water supply. As to immigration, the main alterations' in the existing system are that the provinces are to have nothing to do with the management of it, but that the General Government should take waste lands for the purpose of immigration. To this I have no objection, but I observe that all the sums of money to be expended are not to lie charged against thc provinces benefitted by the settlement, but against the colony, so that those places which will get a large amount of immigrants, will come best off, and those who only get a smaller amount of immigrants, will have to pay their share of the cost of the whole, which is manifestly unfair. I make these remarks, however, uot that I object to the Bill, but in order to draw the attention of hon. members, who, I hope, will take the matter into their most serious consideration, and I especially trust that the hon. member who has char_e of it will not attempt _to push "it through the Committee without some reasonable delay.