MORE POPULATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2054, 3 June 1890, Page 3

MORE POPULATION.

, Letters of which the following is one have appeared \a the Lyttelton Times, They have been copied into some of the North Island papers. They appeared in the Wanganni Herald and the Yeoman also extracts from thorn in, the Oamaru Mail and Waimate Times, a,n«l as th«y attracted ao mnch attention we have decided to;publish them the first letter whioh appeared ia the Lyttelton Times of May 12 th is as foliow'a : Sir,—We are told that what we want now is more population, but, in my opinion what we stand most in need of : is a little bit of common sense. Let ma explain my reasons for saying so,

First—ln' 1885 Sir Jnltus Vogel introduced a protective policy, but it was dashed; back in his toeth, and the pragmatic cry of keep the Ministry in and their measures out was raised. Thus,manacled, with all their capacity for doing anything good gone, the Ministy remained in office, and thus were guilty of the greatest sin of their Ministerial career. Had? Protection been adopted then our industries would have been three years older to-day, and would have been employing more hands. Secondly— Previously money bad been lavishly wasted on giving the unemployed uselss work to do. It has been said that the money thus spent might as well have been flung into the sea. Mr Ballnnce proceeded to settle the unemployed «n the' land, but he was almost impeached for it.' Had th«t policy bsen continued, immense numbers would have beea settled in homes of their own by this time, : and thus room made for other workmen to come into the Colony and fill their places. What I can: not understand is how ; men, who three years ago condemned Ballance. for having spent money on settling these people on the land caa, without a blush, suggest that money be spent oh immigra tion now.

Thirdly—Between 1885 and retiring from office in 1887, Mr Ballanoe introduced into this Colony at a cost of £lO per head three hundred and ninty-seven capitalist farmers who brought with them £43,785. That was profitable immigation indeed. Fourthly—Mr Ballance introduced the Lacd Acquisition Bill, under which large estates would have been subdivided and settled. Fancy, if this measure had been carried into effect, »hat'ao impetus it would have given to immigration. There would be land to survey, fences to make, houses to build, land to be eroken up, &o. Fifthly —The Stout-Vogel Government proposed a progressive property tax so as to encourage small capitalists by making their burdens lighter. Now I ask any sane man was not that policy splendidly devised to increase population J Special inducements for capitalist immigrants; taxation made lighter for the right class ; extraordinary facilities given for settling on the land ; and our industrial resources encouraged and developed 1 If we had a little common sense we would have seen this at the time. But we did not, The cry of retrenchment was raised ; we kicked out the best Government we have ever had, and replaced them by—well, by a Government that drove. 12,000 of the bone and sinew of the land to seek homes in other countries. In this connection I think it appropriate to point out that it is significant that a similar exodus took place when the Atkinson, party replaced the Grey Government. It indicates that their presence in power and place is enough to frighten away the most enterprising of oar colonists. Now we have had retrenchment,; but» what have we gained by it 1 Our taxation das bean increased by about 25 per cent; our population fled ; our industries languishing ; and the whole colony soulless, spiritless, and inert. The retrenchment has been a sham, a delusion, and a snare. See the recent appointments in the Native Department and Snpreme Court, Who. can believe in the retrenchment of a Government that dismissed officers two years ago and have been taklDg oh others ever since 1 But we are told that what we want now is immigration. We want bureaux established everywhere, so as to give information concerning the colony. Now what information can be given T Let me suppose that one of these bureaux is established in Enghnd,. and one who wishes to emigrate asked the agent: "Is it not true that the youth of New Zealand are fleeing, the land the moment they reach manhood 1" What can the agent say? If he tells the truth he must Bay it is, and if he says that his interrogator will reply I " That is not the country to go to."

Now let us exercise a little common sense over this point. We want more population, and wo never will make much headway until it increases. Knowing this, it behoves us to pat our wits together, and study the subjeot in a rational manner. We want to increase our population. How can we do it I Apropos of this is the question, What Induces people to flock to any country 1 The answer is simple :" The prospect of being able to make a home for themselves or to earn a livelihood. Do we offer inducements of this nature! Do we not allow the natural increase of our population to leave us? We certainly do ; and so long as our youth fly from us the moment they teach man's estate, the proposed bureau system is purely another invention for wasting money. If we are to increase our population we must begin at home and make our people prosperous, contented and happy first of all. Let us do this, and let it go forth that New Zealand is prosperous, and then let us establish bureaux if we require them. There are a few Banks and-Land Companies in this colony who, if they would only do it, could double the population of this colony in a few years ; but, as this is already too loDg, I will reserve the suggestion I desire to make for another letter.—l am, etc., J. M. IwomeT. Temuka.