FEMALE IMMIGRATION.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1740, 8 November 1862, Page 3

FEMALE IMMIGRATION.

We have published in another place in the present issue a copy of the “circular” letter of the National Female Emigration Society, to which we desire to direct general attention. The objectless and hopeless existance to which large numbers of women in the lower ranks of the middle class arc by necessity condemned lias excited the sympathy of many active and benevolent ladies in Great Britain, who have done all that in them lay by promoting emigration and by devising or discovering new sources of employment for female hands, to lessen the suffering which was the inevitable lot of so many in the great battle of life at home. Much has already been done, but the attempt at relief if, as it appears, it has had the effect of more fully developing the vast proportions of the malady which needs to he cured—has also indicated unmistakeably that in female emigration from Great Britain to the Colonies the true and certain remedy was to be found. Efforts which have of necessity been somewhat spasmodic in character have been made by relieving pressure on one side to supply a want on the other, and to convert the burden of the mother country into wealth for the Colonies. The Colonies have, on the whole, been content to accept with lazy indifference the boon which English philanthrophy lias from time to time bestowed without, in general, making any effort to maintain the charity by which they profited, and thus the perpetually recurring difficulty “want of funds” has arrested the action of benevolence at home.

The wise liberality of the proposal of (he Kelson Provincial Government apprar-t to have awakened hopes of renewed usefulness in the minds of those who have been so long struggling in tlie good cause, and the result is the project for the formation of a National Female Emigration Society which is before us. The chief question which is now asked by the Society is contained in the third resolution adopted by the meeting held at London House on the 20th June last, and is simply whether or not this Province of Auckland will be willing to co-operate with the Society in the same manner as the Province of Nelson has undertaken to co-operate, viz.: “by guaranteeing the repayment of money for passage and outfit, and by establishing an Immigrant Reception Committee to look after the women upon their arrival here.” Now we presume that there can be no hesitation on the part of the Superintendent and Provincial Council in giving an affirmative reply to this proposition. By proper arrangements the immigrants may be brought under obligations to repay the cost of their passage within a certain time, say two years. A very large proportion of of the cost, it has been proved by experience, may be recovered in this way. That which cannot be so recovered, which might be reckoned at twenty per cent of the whole co d, would be the price which the Province would be actually called on to pay for the supply of one of its pressing wants. AYe hope to find this question engaging the early attention of the local authorities. The citizen 0 , have their part also to perform in the organization of an Immigrant Reception Committee, a duty which will no doubt be undertaken in good time, and thus, with a moderate amount of care and circumspection, wo may be enabled to help in a good work of great magnitude, the advantages of which would be mutual; in providing for our own wants we should be relieving distress in the mother country.