The Patea Mail. Published Wednesday and saturdays SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 106, 15 April 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesday and saturdays SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1876.

That a financial storm is brewing, and will burst on Parliament mooting, then* can in* no doubt; and how to proceed with some of the public works already in band, to say nothing' of those contemplated, will puzzle the financial capacity of even the groat Sir Julius, ft is admitted that the loans destined for expenditure extending over a period of ten years, having been exhausted in half that time, the colony’s borrowing power is pretty well exhausted, its present debt amounting to nearly eighteen millions, and it is clear that retrenchment of the most unsparing kind, in every department of the public service, will have to bo exercised, in order to make bolh ends meet. Amen pst other things, immigration will have to snller, it to sutler is to be comparatively discontinued, and the lavish expenditure of recent Years must, most certainly, be one ol the first things to which the pruning knife, will be applied. If such application had been made earlier, the colony would probably have gamed by the operation, for within the hist year 01 two a number of most undesirable immigrants have been introduced—thanks to the undue zeal of some of the; Immolation Agents, and the laxity ol _ ie Agent-General in supervision Instances without number could be quoted, and illustrations of the want ot judgment that has been displayed in this direction arc constantly published There can be no doubt, therefore that the Assembly, whether tavourable to the Ministry or not, will steadfastly refuse to continue the present system ot immigration, or rather ol obtaining immigrants. The, Government have already stopped the flow of immigrants to sonic extent, and the exertions of a well-known Dunedin gentleman (J. b. Grant), now in Scotland, have _ also ailed in checking any great desire to come out to the Colony., Ibe utterly false and completely ridiculous assertions of Mr. Grant have been easily and thoroughly refuted by Dr. heathers ton; but mud cannot be thrown withoim some of it sticking, and New Zealand has therefore suffered, at least m some degree, through misrepresentation. An abatement in the rate of immigration is no doubt advisable, but at the same time it would be very depreciatory to the Colony wore too stringent or sudden a check put on it. Though New Zealand miy not bo able to bear a of all nations, it can well and justifiably absorb immigrants in a reasonable rati 0 . In order to secure tins, the system of nomination may with advantage be again resorted to, and it is ratlior surprising that it has not been more encouraged hitherto. If people have friends at home that they wish to have out, they can, under that system, have them, either wholly free or at least at little cost. They would not bo so foolish as to nominate those who would be unsuitable colonists, or persons unable to make a living on arrival, for if they did they would have the burden of their maintenance. Again, under the nominated system, immigrants can be far more readily obtained. Those at home know that friends in the colony would not send for them if there was nothing better to offer them than the old country affords, and the words of such traducers as Grant or others would weigh but as a feather in the scale against the practical recommendation to immigration contained in a passage ticket, forwarded from antipodean friends. However it may be necessary or politic to curtail immigration generally, it is to be hoped that the nomination system will be as much extended as possible, for, under its operation, immigrants suited to the colony will be obtained ; they will have homes and friends to go to at once, and, if necessary, a certain portion of the passage money would, in a large majority of cases, bo cheer fully paid here by those sending - for their friends. We trust that, in any future legislation on the subject, the nominated system will be more fostered and encouraged than it

has hitherto Leon, and, if such be the case, the services of the small army of agents and lecturers, now swallowing up a largo amount of public money, will be unnecessary, and can be dispensed with.