The New zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1872.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2600, 25 May 1872, Page 2

The New zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1872.

No one can seriously defend the immigration policy of the General Government. From its inception until now it has been a bungle. Everything looked well enough on paper, and if —" much value is in your if" —the scheme could have been carried out in detail as it was sketched in outline, " it would have been a great success." That is just where the hitch occurs, however. It has not been so carried out ; and we venture to think that so crude were the ideas of those who initiated tho immigration scheme that it could not have been successfully carried out. Everything has been pretty well left to chance ; and as wo are only aware of one really good thing that happened by chance, it would be a wonder if tho New Zealand immigration scheme should provo a second exception to the rule of mishaps resulting from it.

We are told in ail apologctic kind of way by the Government organs, and by such thick-and-thin supporters of the administration as Mr. Macandrew, that " it would be far better to intro- " duco immigrants from the United " Kingdom, but that if they cannot be " got, we must go to Scandinavia and " Gormany." Our reply is, that no reasonable attompt has been mado to obtain them in the mother country; and t/q agreo with tho Wellington Independent in tho following remarks :—

It is very evident that, at any rato in tho districts of North Hereford and South Salop, agricultural emigrants can bo obtained if they are only properly encouraged and invited. And we have no doubt that from many other parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland this colony could procure suitablo immigrants in any reasonable number. Wo cannot help remarking that alLhough we peruse scores of British newspapers, we never by any chance come across any evidonco that the AgentGeneral of New Zealand is pushing the wsrk of immigration in a prominent manner. We read reports of the meetings of various societies affecting colonial interests in some way or othor, and though we generally find Canada, "Victoria, Now South Waleß, and Queensland represented by some one on their behalf cithor their respective agents or somo distinguished colonist—Now Zealand is conspicuous for the abßenco of anyone on its behalf, and for the almost uninterrupted silence in respect to its merits as one of the competitors for the superabundant population of tlio old country. Wo anxiously scan overy paper wo get hold of, but whilst wo come across numerous references to Canailu and the Australian colonics, wo seldom are rewarded by mention of this colony. Now wo would suggest to tlio Government that it would bo woll to instruct Dr. l'\ a* lierston to place himself in communication M .lli the society we have brought undor their notice, and that he should also be given to understand that it would bo advisable if ho would show himself occasionally amongst the agents of other colonies at public meetings of colonial interest, and let tlio various public societies know that thore is such a placo as New Zealand, and that it can offer to immigrants advantages equal to, if not greater, than those of any other country.

Tho society referred to is the British and Foreign Colonial Emigration Society. The Independent, on this sub-

ject, we are bound to say, lias not run smoothly in Government traces. But why not obtain immigrants from the United Kingdom for Now Zealand if we are to bring thetn out free ? Those who say that they cannot be obtained surely must imagine that their readers know nothing of contemporary history. Has emigration from Great Britain and Ireland ceased ? If it had, there would bo reason in the remark ; but that the stream is flowing as steadily as ever is proved by the statistics published by tho Imperial Government, tho United States, and Canada. In a speech on tho subject of emigration to tho colonics, in tho House of Commons, Mr. Maclio quo;ed from tlio last report of tho Coiiimisioners of Emigration. From it we :ire told that during the preceding year the number of English, Scotch, and Irish emigrants was about 200,000, " of whom 122,000 " wero males, the great bulk of them " adults ; and the great proportion of "the latter wero artisans, gardeners, " aud fanners." And this large stream of population is steadily pouring westward from tho United Kingdom. llow, in the face of these facts, can the New Zealand Government defend their stateinont that immigrants cannot be obtained from the mother country ?

Let us go a few years farther back, aud take tho statistics of emigration to the United States, whose liberal land laws and free municipal institutions have alone attracted population to its shores. The United States Coinmisioners of Emigration report that tho number of English (excluding "Welsh) and Scotcli who emigrated to that country in ISI9-oO was but 12,000; ten years later it had risen to 31,000 ; ten years later still —that is in 18G9-70 —it had risen to 139,000.

Again, we find from the report of tlio British Commissioners that "in " ISG9 and IS7O Irish emigrants " amounted respectively to 73,000 and " 71,000; last year (1S71) the number " was 71,000 ; in LSGJL and ISGS, the " first years of tho returns, it was " 105,000 and 101,000. But while tho " number of Irish who voluntarily " expatriated themselves was diminish- " ing, that of the English and Scotch " was increasing. In ISG9, IS7O, and " IS7I tlio number of Scotch was " 22,000, 23,000, and 19,000 respec- " tively; in ISGI and ISC : S it was " 15,000 and 13,000 only. In ISGD, " 1870, and IS7I the English emi- " grants amounted to 90,000, 105,000, " 102,000 respectively ; while in ISGI " and ISGS they were only 57,000 and " G1,000." These figures arc conclusive against the Government,and when wo rellect that only a very small proportion of thoso peoplo wero " free " emigrants,'' or camo at all to the Australian colonies, tho economic results of the land policy of tho United States and Canada appear enormous. But, viewed in another light, wo are great losers. It appears from the Commissioners' report that in three years onlj r "emigrants from the mother " country, but chiefly from Ireland, " liad remitted home more tliati " four million five hundred thousand " pounds sterling." And this is tho great emigration fund which is draining Britain of her population, and enriching tho American countries witli her best and most enterprising sons of toil. And here we may mention that the experience of Queensland, in an oconoinic point of view, is against the foreign and in favour of the British immigrant. The foreigner takes as much as ho can get from tho State, and returns as little as possiblo ; with the British immigrant the reverso is the case. And, on a small scale, wo have an example of this at our own door.

Wo arc trying to flood our country with Gorman and Scandinavian people, taxing tho onergiesof tho British colo-

nists to pay their passages, and give them a start when here ; and wo do not look at what has happened elsewhere. The llobart Town Mercury, commenting 011 Mr. Buck's " last and " best" consignment of German immigrants, says that of 200 who arrived, there were only 70 males over 12 years, and only over 15 years. What guaranteo, therefore, havo we that the Hamburgh, Christiana, and Stockholm agents of Dr. Featherston will not complete his order in a similar manner, seeing that Mr. Buck only succeeded in this wise when on tlio spot himself? And in this connection, the following remarks from tho Jhcrcury are as applicable to the New Zealand immigration scheme as they aro to tho Tasmanian :—

Whilo wo wero wasting our energies and litllo means in ho blundering our cll'ort at immigration, a fine field was being neglected. It may bo that whilo tho English artisan desiring a chango can find a homo within fourteen days' sail of Liverpool, he will not undertake a voyage of three months. But if wo could all'ord to bribo such materials as Mr. Buck has given us, might not tho Bamo inducements havo had some effect on British emigrants ? And with this difference, that whilo it is neither desirable nor likely that tho Germans who have come among us will draw others like themselves after them, every British emigrant to Tasmania might havo proved a pioneer, and been followed by former neighbours. Whilo wo havo been misdirecting our onorgies, and the other colonies have been comparatively inactive, tho United States Government lrnvo beon lavish in their labour and encouragemont to immigration.

There is an unrivalled field in the British colonies for the settlement of immigrants of tho British race ; and nothing on earth prevents our fellowcountrymen coming to the Australasian States, but tho narrow fiscal systems and crude political ideas of our so-called statesmen, who either lock up the land against the husbandman, or convert it into gold for tho maintenance of political influence and tho perpetuation of jobbery. The British colonies possess an unoccupied area sufficient, according to the published statistics, to give every man, woman, and child of the British subjects of the Crown, at home and abroad, a farm of fifty acres each. Yet with such a territory, and with a colonising race ev«r pushing out into new regions, we are told that we cannot induce British emigrants to select the colonies au their future homes. We do not believe it; and what is more, we trust tho Assembly will peremptorily stop a Buicidal policy of foreign immigration aa far as Now Zealand is concerned.

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE. Oue Alexandra correspondent sends us several important items of news, which appear in our telegraphic column. It seems that the King and his Prime Minister, jManuhiri, have agreed to meet the Governor and Jfr. ilcLean at To Kopua. This is a great point conceded, and as the Native Minister is, in all probability, already there, matters may be arranged for a final pacification of the country. We may add that Tavrlnao waited at To Eopua several days recently to meet the Governor, who was expected there on llewi's invitation ; but as His Excellency did not arrive they were disappointed. However, it is much better as it has happened, because direct overtures have been made by the King, through Manuhiri, since then. It is well known that the King and his advisers will renew tho demand of William Thompson, to have Waikato restored to them ; at the same time they likewise recognise the impossibility of the Government complying with their demand. Other proposals will, therefore, in all likelihood be made as a compromise. What the ultimate result cf these proceedings may be it is of course impossible to foresee, but that they point in the direction of a permanent settlement there can be no doubt.

To Kooti is near Orakau, one of the most celebrated plaees during the war: in other words, he is located on our immediate frontier, and almost within rifle range of a redoubt. It will be interesting to know what steps Mr. McLean will tuko regarding Te Kooti. On the West Coast, Titokowaru, who committed infiuitely more atrocities than Te Kooti, and on whose head a price was fixed by the Government, has been " interviewed" by Mr. Commissioner Parris, and his crimes have been virtually condoned by the Government. There is a precedent, therefore, for dealing leniently with Te Kooti; and his open dealing with the King-party since his second advent to Waikato indicates confidence on his own part that he will be allowed to live quietly, " that the land may have " rest." When the true history of Te Kooti comes to be written, Europeans may alter their opinion of him ; but, be that as it inay, he is undoubtedly regarded in the light of a national hero by the Maoris, and his career is not contemplated with disfavour by them. Two years ago, we might have done a gracious act by accepting To Kooti's submission ; now, should his presenco in the Waikato bo ignored by the Government, and his name be included in a general amnesty, there will be no magnanimity in our proceeding ; it will simply be the result of necessity ; and be so interpreted by the native? themselves. The surrender of Todd's murderers is, however, quite another all'air. This was a deliberate and unprovoked crime, in which no political cause operated ; and whatever the Native Minister may do in regard to political offenders, justice requires that he should insist upon the surrender, for trial, of the men who shot Richard Todd.

Not tho least important portion of our Alcxaudra correspondent's telegram is that in which iio states that there is plenty of gold at Tuhua, and that the district will be opened to Europeans when the natives have arranged certain preliminaries nmongst themselves. THE ASSEMBLY. We are in a position to state that the Assembly will be convened for despatch of business in Wellington, on the loth July.