THE WELLINGTON EMIGRATION FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 493, 25 July 1857, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON EMIGRATION FUND.

(From the Times, March 17.) There is a little matter which we would fain urge upon the consideration of our readers, even amid the din of electioneering strife. It may not be quite forgotten that some weeks since, when there was held in Smithfield a meeting of distressed labourers and artisans, we pointed to Emigration as the true source of relief. The question is so completely one of common sense that we can scarcely conceive two opinions upon the subject. Suppose that these islands, in place-of a population of 30,000,000, or thereabouts, contained but a population of 15 000,000-the national resources, the fertility of the soil, and the manufacturing capacities remaining the same—it is quite clear that whatever inconvenience might be the result, that inconvenience would not he felt by the labouring population. rlhe real cause of the misery which fell upon certain sections of the labouring classes during the winter which is now passing away, resulted from the preponderance of hands over work. This state of things was far from

universal. Pauperism ia absolutely on the : decrease in the aggregate, although it is perfectly true that in certain places the existence of great destitution is, unfortunately, not to be denied. The causes of this destitution were transitory, but there will always be transitory causes of destitution confined to particular areas and localities. The point, then, is to provide a harbour of refuge for those persons who may from time to time be thrown into such straits. We say that in our various colonies, but more especially in Australia and in the Canada*,1 that harbour of refuge is to be found. Let us illustrate this position by an example. Suppose at the present ' moment all that section of the island which i lies to the north of the Scottish border line | were waste and uncultivated, and suppose (that any artisans or labourers.who might J happen to be thrown out of employment could in twenty-four hours betake themselves and transport themselves into this ! Caledonian Sanctuary, should we hear i more about the distresses of the labouring | classes? Now, the Canadas and Australia are snch a Scotland as we are supposing for the purpose of the argument. The only substantial difference lies in the length of the voyage, which is a mere point of detail. It really matters very little whether an emigrant be twenty four hours on a railroad or ten days in a ship. The cost of the sea voyage is undoubtedly greater, but so that this can be got over there is an end of all argument. Toronto will do just aa well as Sterling, and Melbourne as Inverness, as far as the future fortunes of the emigrant are concerned. The one tiling necessary is to build the bridge and set the fashion. When our struggling fellow-countrymen become aware of the fact that a door of escape is open to them, and that Emigration " answers,' we feel well assured that they will find means, in one way or another, to make good their flight. What we, who have wealth, intelligence, and the habit of affairs vi on our side, have to do ia to organise in the most complete and economical manner the system of Emigration. When the machine is once in gear and at work it will not need much help from without to keep it in active operation. . Now a fc-ociety of noblemen and gentlemen have established a certain fund, to which they have given the name of the " Wellington Emigration Fund, " from the fact that the present Duke of Wellington heads the subscription list with a donation of £1,000. Messrs. Labouchere, Sidney Herbert, and Thomas Baring, the Lord Mayor, Lord Stanley, and other men of kindly nature and approved character, take an active share in the proceedings of the Association. This Association it is our desire to recommend in the strongest terms to the public. The working men of the metropolis* say that, although ".they are compelled to ask for an entirely free passage to the colonies, as far as concerns present payment by emigrants, they adopt as a prominent and distinct condition of such a boon that the whole cost of their conveyance shall be repaU by all persons so assisted within a cettuii) time after their arrival. " This condition is one which we doubt not will be satisfied. There will not be many bad debts to write off the books of the Wellington Emigration Fund. . We recommend the Association to turn their attention most earnestly to a sound organizing of their transport service. Let them not only contribute the passage-money of the few ; let them also give such an impulse to the traffic that the many may pass from point to point at the lowest possible cost, and without danger of crimps and accidents by the way. In default of the interference of Government, which cannot be hoped for in such a matter, we recommend the Wellington Emigration Fund to the favour of the public. ' The Bishop of Norwich has notified to his clergy, in a letter full of natural feeling, that he hasj-esigned, and is " preparing to make room for a successor at the end of the present month." He retires without stipulating for the pension which of course he will receive.. His observations on the increase of Episcopal work and the great necessity for providing for it, deserve to be noted, bearing in mind the quarter from whence they came. — Guardian April 1.