EMIGRATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 920, 17 July 1869, Page 1

EMIGRATION.

The attempt made^ in London, towards the close of last year, ,tpi set on foot a system of ' Pauper Emigration ' to the colonies, appears to have been wisely abandoned. The promoters of that movement were made aware in time that the burden of pauperism could not be transferred to the colonies as easily as they imagined. In the first place, they discovered that the Colonial Governments would not countenance any attempt of the. kind; and in the second place, they discovered that the cost of sending the paupers out was greater than they anticipated, especially as no assistance could be expected from the colonies. The expense of passage and outfit to Canada — which is less than to any other colony — would amount to £7 or £8 for each adult pauper ; while to Australia, the expense would amount to £18 or £20. The disposal of the paupers on their arrival would involve another £5 each. Such a rate of expenditure was far beyond the resources of any private Emigration Fund, depending on voluntary subscriptions; and at the same time no Board of Guardians was prepared to incur such an expenditure even to get rid of paupers. The colonies thus escaped the infliction of a species of emigration which would scarcely have proved more acceptable to them than the revival of transportation. The arrival of a shipload of paupers would give rise to such a storm of opposition in these colonies that the experiment would not be repeated. It is satisfactory to know, ho-rever, that the colonies will not be called upon to express their opinion in that manner.

The abortive project of a Pauper Emigration gave way toamuch more promising proposal — and that was, to send out to the colonies the workmen thrown out of employment by the closing of dockyards and the general stagnation of trade. A private association was formed for the purpose of carrying out this scheme, under the title of ♦ The East End Emigration and Relief Fund,' The Committee of this Association opened an office in Poplar, where ample information was afforded to all persons desirous of emigrating. The applicants were carefully examined as to their character and their circumstances j their fitness for colonial life was ascertained ; and the necessary arrangements for shipping those who might be selected were attended to. A list of the selected applicants was then sent to tho Colonial Immigration Agents, in order to prepare them for the arrival of the immigrants. TTp to January last, the Committee had assisted 900 of these emigrants. The greater part of them went to Canada at a coßt of from j£s to £6 per head ; while some were sent to Australia, at a cost of about LB. The success which attended this movoment seems to have suggested the idea of enlarging its basis. Instead of confining the circle of its activity to the East End of London, it was proposed to include the whole of the surplus labour of the country. The title of the association was accordingly ohanged, and it is now known as • The British and Colonial Emigration Fund.' The Lord Mayor of London acts nx President, and the Committee comprises! some twenty or thirty gentlemen of high standing. Subscriptions to tho amount of LCOOO had been received and expended by this association up to March last. A circular letter has been addressed to the various Colonial Governments, soliciting ' pecuniary and other assistance in the promotion of emigration/ and promising not only that the wishes of the Colonial Governments in respect to the persons selected for emigration should be considered, but that the latter should be submitted for approval to the Colonial Emigration Agents, before they were allowed to embark. Certain forme Kcompaftwd tbia letter t the fin*

being an * Application Paper,' containing a, series of questions to be answered by intending , emigrants; , the second,, a certificate to 1 be signed in favour of the applicant by , his last employer, or by two householders; the I third, a medical . certificate of health ! and sanity; the fourth, a list of articles required as an outfit by emigrants. The directions as to the amount and [quality of the outfit are very precise, and not a little amusing. They commence with the following dictum : — 'It cannot be too strongly impressed, as a general rule,* that the more abundant the atock of clothing each person can afford to take, the better for health and comfort during the passage.' And as a further means of ensuring health and comfort, they provide the emigrant with a receipt for preserving his boots from 'the bad effects of sea water.' He is advised to keep, this mixture,, * well covered in a gallipot, to rub it in well on his boots, and set them in a hot sun or before the fire.'

As these papers have been presented to both Houses, it is probable that some discussion may take place on the subject. It is much to be wished that the subject will be taken up earnestly. The Government has now an opportunity ot obtaining additional population such as never has presented itself before. Unless the efforts made in England to promote emigration are warmly seconded by the colonial Governments, they are not likely to meet with much, success. Enthusiasm in the matter at home is very likely to fade away in the face of apathy in the colonies. The need for immigration here is greater now than it has ever been yet, and therefore the question deserves the most earnest consideration. With the exception of Victoria, very little has been done of late years in any of these colonies for the promotion of immigration. The matter has been practically left to settle itself. It has never been taken in hand systematically and energetically, as it has been in the United States. No arrangements, for instance, have been made for the disposal of immigrants on their arrival, or the proper distribution of labour. The immigrants are left to shift for themselves : and if they do not succeed in obtaining employment, they have no resource. To turn immigration to the best advantage, these deficiencies in our system should be rectified by the establishment of a Labour Exchange in each province, in connection with the Immigration Department. Such a provision would be especially requisite in the event of an unusually large addition to the population, such as may be expected through the operation of the present movement.