Wellington Independent THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1871.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3377, 21 December 1871, Page 2

Wellington Independent THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1871.

The announcement made in our columns yesterday of the provisional arrangements made with the firm of Brogden and Sons for the construction of railways must have been received with very general satisfaction. There is now an immediate probability of the various works enumerated being speedily taken in hand, but it would add still more to the gratification of the people of New Zealand if they could be assured that the other necessary feature of the Government policy — immigration — was in a fair way of being carried out. As we stated in a recant article, it is absolutely impossible that the large works authorised can be constructed either within the time ov within the limit of the estimated cost, unless the labor market of the colony is very much enlarged. It may suit a few agitators to get up the cry that there is a large body of unemployed in this colony, but anyone who has had the opportunity of making his own observations on this subject throughout New Zealand will v jbesitatinglj say that, whatever surplus labor there may be, it is not that

kind of labor that would be useful in carrying out the public works. The great proportion of the " unemployed," as they style themselves, consists of idle loafers or men who are incapacitated for bard work, and neither class would be worth much to any contractor Good hard-working men, fit for railway works, will be found not only to be very scarce, but they will certainly exact the highest rate of wages obtainable. Possibly Maori labor may be procured on some of the lines, but it is doubtful if any real economy would be secured by its employment. As yet little has been heard of the progress being made by the AgentGeneral in London, and it is hardly to be expected that he will bave succeeded in completing any extensive arrangements for the class of immigration now needed in the colony. The Government will, we expect, find it to their advantage to extend large facilities to either Messrs Brogden, or to other contractors, to enable them to import laborers who would be likely to become permanent settlers. Probably no better clas3 could be brought out to New Zealand thau the German laborers, who have been accustomed to railway work. The wages they earn in their own country are ridiculously small compared with the price which the Government could afford that they should have here, and as. in all probability, they would bring out their wives and families, they might be expected to become permanent settlers of a very useful type. They are industrious and sober, proverbially lespectful to the laws of the country in which they live, and are generally good agriculturists. We are informed that if sufficient inducements are offered, any number of good immigrants can be obtained from Germany much readier thaa from the United Kingdom. Past experience has proved that it is not easy to induce any considerable flow of population from England to New Zealand — that is to say, of that kind of population which is worth having. We do not want the sweepings of the streets and poorhouses. We need good practical hands — men who will come with the expectation and the capacity to make New Zealand their home. It matters little lo us whence population comes, if it be of the right sort. The Germans are notably the best immigrants the United States obtain ; they have assisted in no slight degree in the foundation of that great nation of America ; they have taken part in its Government, and have always been regarded as the most peaceful and lawabiding portion of the population. It was stated a short time ago that Dr Featherston was making enquiry with the view of obtaining German immigrants, but as yet no practical result appears to have been achieved. Would it not be well for the Government to ascertain if Messrs Brogden could obtain a suitable body of German laborers who have been accustomed to railway work ? That firm has constructed important works on the Continent, and would probably be in a position to induce many of their old emjiloyees to come out to this colony. As many of the proposed lines will occupy several years in construction the chances are that the immigrants would make up their minds to settle in the country, and bring their hostages with them. The subject is well worth consideration, for we are satisfied the immigration feature of the public works scheme is quite as important as the mere decision as to what railways shall be made. Tf the works indicated by us yesterday arc to be commenced contemporaneously, they will stand a chance of soon being tied up for want of suitable labor.