Correspondence.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 323, 27 May 1869, Page 3

Correspondence.

♦ . " — IMMIGRATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— Again I trespass upon your space to impress upon the people of Canterbury the necessity for calUng a public meeting, to take into consideration the desirability of passing resolutions calling upon Government to bring before the Council some definite scheme to accomplish— Firstly: The conversion of our waste lands into reproductive use, by introducing population. Se >ndly : To devise some scheme that will attract the notice of voluntary immigrants, who have been brought up to agricultural pursuits. Third 1 *: To make provision for the re-in-vestment of such sums accruing from time to time by the cultivation of such lands. To Mr Knight, mover of the resolutioa on immigration last night, every credit is due for having called the Government's attention to the imperative necessity of moving in this matter, if we want to make tbis province prosperous. In your leader of last nigbt, you call attention to what obstacles stand in the way of rendering the wast 3 lands reproductive— viz., the squatting interests. Take last night's voting as a proof of this. From the remarks made by Messrs Delamain and Grey, it would seem that the plain explanation is — " Gentlemen, we are conservators of our own interests ; (.i.e.) we want lots of immigrants {poorer the belter) to cultivate our lands and foster our individual interests." Now, Mr Editor, how can such leg/'slation as this tend to encourage the settlement of our waste lands ? Wbat sort of an advert iscment wonld this be for new arrivals to send home to their friends in England ? I venture to predict every letter would teem with advice to friends in England—" Don't come; stop where you are." On the other hand, were the lands unlocked, and sold to immigrants on fair terms, the letters home would say — " Come by all means ; you have a chance here, by working hard, of becoming your own freeholder." Would it not be better for all our legislators to take a fair and expansive view of this question ? Let them remember why they are returned to ropressnt the people in the Provincial Council — namely, to legislate for the masses; also, that a sacred trust has been reposed in each member by his constituents to legislate f .)!• the greater number, atid not for his own interest only. From the known energy of the Superintendent and his Executive, I can't seriously give up the idea (judging by Mr Montgomery's remarks) that the Executive intend to introduce some measure of their own in respect to utilising the waste lands. In Canterbury, by judicious management, there is room for thousands of immigrants. In j Eugland, thousands upon thousands are! starving, who would only be too glad to bave the chance of bringing up their families as good, industrious settlers and tillers of the soil in Canterbury. I apologise for trcspassiug on your columns with such a lengthy letter, though I feel assured you are anxious to insert auy opinions that tend to the prosperity of this proviuce. Your obedient servant, PROGRESS. Christchurch, May 27.