IMMIGRATION NO. VI.

Southland Times, Issue 1026, 23 September 1868, Page 2

IMMIGRATION NO. VI.

(TO THE EDITOR Or THE SOTTTHTiAKP TIMBSj). Sib, — In my last I pointed ont that it i was both the interest and duty of the Colonial Government to take immediate and energetic steps to inaugurate a general scheme for immigration, as without it land sales could not reasonably be anticipated. To expect the same people to continue buying , land when the high price of labor prevents its: being turned to account, ' not to mention the exhaustion of the borrowing capacity, is chimerical. With a stationary • population (as regards numbers) there can be no hope of either the consolidated or land funds increasing, while, as the various gold-fields ! get worked out, there is a certainty of a decrease in both. There, is no, time therefore to lose in bringing in a permanent addition to our present population, and it appears to me that by far the best and simplest plan to be adopted is the latter of my propositions, to contract with Messrs G-odeflioy and C 0.,; of Hamburgh. As to the class >of settlers there cannot be two opinions. To quote Messrs G-odeffroy and Sons' words in one of their letters toMrKelling: — "It. "is thisJl sober, quiet, enduring, persevering, and warlike race, that have peopledthe west of the United States, who have' so often defended their soil agaist /.the- cruel Indians, and who are r now ; foolish enough to fight the battles' for the Northern States. The Government of Queensland did not require the re-pay-ment of their passage money by the immigrants, white' in Victoria they not only _got free passages but land given them without charge. In New Zealand the nearly universal military training they receive in .their own country, would add materially to their value over the ordinary immigrant. They could not merely defend themselves, but would be a powerful element to keep in check the Maories. The state of Minnesota furnished no less than 15,000 men to the United States army during the recent war, although she had; just previously repelled an incursion, of Sioux Indians into her territory. Suoh are the men we want — earnest in peace, and ready for war. The eligibility of the class of immigrants being acknowledged, the next questions are the measures tp be taken by the Central Government to introduce' it, and what parts of the colony are , by circumstances and 'natural advantages qualified for its reception. As to the first I would suggest , that the General Government should at once enter into a contract with Messrs G-odeffroy and Son for the introduction of say. 25,000 statute adults, issuing debentures payable at 10 years, up to five hundred thousand pounds^ (£500,000) < as circumstances required bearing 6 per cent, interest, to be taken at par, by Messrs G-odeffroy and Son, and to be recovered from the' immigrants by instalments. To effect which, a xion-political board, of Immigration Commissioners, such j as I proposed in my first letter, would have to be appropriated in each province or county into which the immigrants were introduced. Each adult ,to have a 1 50 acre section at 20s an acre with ten more added for each son of 18 years of age to

be also paid for by^instai^ent* d|da^^|| ten years after 'he gets possemoii (These are, however, details w&ch^&Jbe' better v settled by negotiation between the and shipping contjpc* tors.) Thusthe country wouldbecolpnwid without expense;, the waste lands not merely sold, but What is of much greater importance settled, made reproductive. The next question, as to what part of New Zealand these immigrants are^^to . be located, is- the knotty point. Here provincial jealousies come into operation ; but" in such an immigration circumstances and nature have decided it. When the three million loan was contracted, manifestly for the almost sole advantage of the Northern; , Island— 4 large part of it for the planting bt military settlements— ihe residents iii the middle one submitted without a murmur to be taxed to meet the Exigencies of the case. This was hard > cash to be repaid with interest. Here was, as it proved, no quid pro quo, no recouping for the treasury, no permanent settlement, no stable increase of the consolidated revenue. If then, we, in the Middle .Island, .did not and dp not • grumble at having to pay our proportion of this three millions. of expenditure,. from which we have received no benefit, I dp not think the 1 residents of the Northern one dan even whisper against the issue of paper, which will be much more than met by what it produces, and that before it becomes due. More particularly when it ia considered that by the adoption of such a scheme as I propose, our present security for the payment of. ova. existing liability will be increased in value, the burden of taxation lightened for the North without any, exertion or sacrifice on its part, and a permanent and incalculable benefit conferred on the community at large in whatever part of the colony they, may reside. — I am, <fee» Walteb H. Peabsojt. Invercargill, 21st Sept. 1868.