Evening Post. MONDAY, AUGUST 11,1902.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1902, Page 4

Evening Post. MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 1902.

EMIGRATION TO SOUTH AFRICA. The ipirit of Adventure that 10 largely prompted the ready response of the Australasian colonists to the call to anus in South Airica is now being manifested in. a growing disposition on the part of many ol our colonials to go thither and : assist in the permanent pacification of ; the country by employment of the art* of peace. This, of course, cannot be i..led by any stretch of imagination a patrlotio movement, but all the same it is one v-at may yet concern this ooun* try, as well a* affect the future «ettletnout of the late Republics. Juib now however, our immediate concern it to try and indicate to intending emigrants to South Africa the prospects that there await them. First, there it at present no certainty of employment for unskilled labour at remunerative, wages. The Rand mine-owners could employ thousand* of white workers at a fair wage, but they prefer natives, and if the supply of these should prove unequal to th<j demand, it it the intention of the i .plovers, if they are permitted, as they probably will be, to import Chinamen. True, there is a minority of employers who advocate the employment of white men, but nt what. rates—-30s per week and rations, and for lodgment presumably a crowded barrack. It would seen then, according to appearances, there is no present inducement for the unskilled workers of this colony t^ take a- hand in the pacification and ujvelopment of South Africa. For skilled workers, particularly in connection with tho building trades, wages rule high and there will be plenty ' of remunerative employment for some time to come, but then it has to be borne in mind that the cost i of living, except in the coastal towns, I largely discounts the greater raf6 of pay. Housing on the Rand, for instance, al present aosorbs 40 per cent of income. Still, it seems that for somo years to come, South Africa will offer a very profitable field of occupation for artisan* who are single men, or who have not iamilies to transport to a new country, and there maintain them under expensive conditions. There remains tho land, upon the successful settlement of which, apart from the development of the great mineral resources of the country, so much will depend. The Imperial, as well as the colonial Governments, Natal particularly, are quite alive to the importance of planting British settlers beside the Boers, and there appears to be a wide scopu of territory of varying character in the late Republics, already in possession of the. Crown, from which intending settlers may make their choice Thus, according to accounts that have) reached us, the land that will practically be available for selection, without counting possible future resumption, amounts to eleven millions two hundred > thousand acres, and oan be occupied in areas — according to classification— ranging from twenty U> three thousand acres, The minimum is rich land that will be irrigated, and adapted to close cultivation for fruit growing. The maximum area is purely pastoral land, situated in the eastern part of the Orange Colony, and described as having a carrying capacity of one sheep to the acre. As indicating the liberality of the terms offered, this land may be brought by an approved selector for 12s per acre, payable by annual in* stalmenta extending over a period of thirty years. Assuming the carrying capacity of this country to be fairly estimated, this is much cheaper land than can be bought in New Zealand, and Arith it there is the certainty of a better local market. Then again Kaffir labour is cheap and plentiful, and if it he not skilled or very reliable, among stock on large ureas it can be turned to good account in places where white workers are not procurable. The Government, besides giving a conditional lease on very easy terms— s per cert, of value by way of rent — with the right of purchase of the freehold, will also make advances at 6 per cent, for investment in improvements and the purchase of stock upon the basis of '£ for £. That is to say, that for every pound the selector investb in his land, he can obtain a like s\im by way cf mortgage from tUe Governtnanfc. All thU JtnoAaxn attractive., but <

tho other side of the picture comes iitto view when the stocking of tho country ib considered. Transvaal stock is of poor quality und breeding sheep are now locally worth 30s, and cattle £25 nor head. This means capital, and no inconsiderable amount, to enable the selector to make a \fair start. It was cabled last week that the Natal Government was prepared to offer special terms for settlement of ten thousand farms, and as the colonies will thus bo competing for desirable settlers, the terms &re certain to be as liberal as those offered within the >late Republics. There are many young farmers here who cannot, unfortunately, through the slackness of tho Government in opening fresh country, acquire land of their own, and many of these will be tempted to try their fortune in South Africa. They may find there a bettor avenue to successful land occupation than in their own country, but we counsel them to wait for more certain evidence of values. The millionu of unoccupied land in these now British States will not be filled up for years to come, so that the intending emigrant will be wise to watch and wait.