APPOINTMENT OF CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL EMIGRATION AGENT IN LONDON, (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, D-10

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1873. NEW ZEALAND.

APPOINTMENT OF CANTERBURY PROVINCIAL EMIGRATION AGENT IN LONDON, (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency. No. 1. His Honor AY. Bolleston to the Hon. the Premier. Christchurch, 13th May, 1873. Will you inform me what arc arrangements with Province of Otago as to Mr. Auld's immigration agency, and is Government prepared to sanction similar arrangements with respect to Canterbury ? I understand that General Government finds funds for Mr. Auld to work with, under general supervision of Agent-General. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. AVm. Bolleston.

No. 2. His Honor AY. Bolleston to the Hon. the Phemier. Christchurch, 11th May, 1873. Can you reply to my telegram re immigration ? Important, as Council is sitting. The Hon. tho Premier, AVellington. AVm. Bolleston.

No. 3. The Hon. J. Vogel to His Honor AY. Bolleston. AVellington, 15th May, 1873. Atjld's position quite exceptional. When Government took over immigration, Agent-General instructed as far as possible to continue Auld in Scotch Agency for Otago, he had worked so well for so long a time. He and Agent-General did not, however, work cordially, and he is now under Provincial instructions. The Government cannot consent to relinquish the control and direction of immioration, but will gladly give most favourable consideration to suggestions which have for their object the promotion and increase of immigration. If you have any special proposition with that view to' make, the Government will consider it upon its merits, with a view to meet the wishes of the Provincial Government. His Honor AY. Bolleston, Christchurch. Jui_.fi A togel.

No. 4. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. J. Vogel. Christchurch, 17th May, 1873. Is your telegram re Auld public ? It is addressed personally. The Province does not feel that it has any representative in London sufficient to insure its interest being looked after. Emigrants choose their own Provinces, and their advisers are North Island men. We want Agent to act for Province under direction and supervision of Agent-General. The Hon. Julius Vogel, AVellington. W. Bolleston.

No. 5. His Honor AY. Bolleston to the Hon. J. Vogel. Christ church, 21st May, 1573. Re Immigration Agency.—l understand from Superintendent of Otago's speech to his Council that General Government finds funds for their Provincial Agent. AYe do not wish to avoid general control I—D. 10.

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of Agent-General, but require that some one specially acquainted with the Province should act for it under his direction. Think that our Provincial Council, when question comes on, will not unnaturally be dissatisfied if they are to understand that this Province cannot look for the same advantages as another. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Wm. Bolleston.

No. 6. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, 28th May, 1873. I have the honor to forward a copy of resolutions passed by the Provincial Council, having reference to immigration to this Province; and I have to express a hope that the Government will give them their immediate and favourable consideration. I have, &c, Wm. Bolleston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 6. Provincial Council Chambers, 27th May, 1873. Besoltjtions passed :—" That this Council, seeing that the amount of immigration to this Province under the present system has up to this time been inadequate to meet its requirements, are of opinion, (1.) That the Province should be represented in the United Kingdom by an Agent nominated by the Provincial Government, whose chief duty shall be to collect emigrants for Canterbury. (2.) That instructions as to the number and description of emigrants required, and other matters relating to immigration, should be given to such Agent by the Provincial Government, such instructions to be nevertheless subject to the approval of the General Government. (4.) That the system of free passages should extend not only to emigrants selected by the English agents, but also to those who are nominated by persons already settled in the Province. (5.) That His Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to place on the estimates a sum not exceeding £20,000, to be used for the purpose of promoting immigration to the Province, in case arrangements cannot be made with the General Government in accordance with the above resolutions."

No. 7. Mr. W. Kennaway to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Christchurch, sth June, 1873. lie Emigration Besolutions forwarded in my letter of the 21st ultimo. Through an error of the Clerk of the Council, Besolution No. 3 was omitted in his copy as sent. Passed as follows:— " (3). That the salaries and other necessary expenses connected with this Agency should be defrayed out of the Immigration Loan." Walter Kennaway, The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. (in the absence of the Superintendent).

No. 8. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Christchurch, 17th June, 1873. Hate General Government decided as to Immigration Besolutions ? Will General Government appoint Provincial Agent nominated by Provincial Government, and allow him to act as indicated in resolutions forwarded ? Expenses to be met out of Immigration Loan. Will General Government extend free passages to nominated immigrants ? We are inconvenienced for want of reply. The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Wm. Bolleston.

No. 9. The Hon. AY. H. Betnolds to His Honor W. Bolleston. Wellington, 7th June, 1873. Immigration Besolutions of much importance ; are still under consideration of Government. Wm. Betnolds. The Superintendent, Christchurch.

No. 10. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Christchurch, 20th June, 1873. Urgent. Have Government yet decided as to Immigration Besolutions ? If not, Provincial Government is of opinion that an interview might be desirable, and member of the Government would come up to Wellington for that purpose. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. AVm. Bolleston.

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No. 11. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Christchurch, 28th June, 1873. Immigration.—lt is of great importance that some decision should be come to before the next mail leaves. The strong opinion of the Provincial Council, as expressed in their resolutions, will, I trust, excuse my urgency. As matters now stand, Canterbury has neither the privilege elsewhere accorded, of agent or agents in London with local knowledge, nor advantage of utilizing to the full its settlers here as nominators or selectors. Provincial Government feel bound to give effect to resolution enabling settlers to nominate persons for free passages, and wishes, in doing this, to consult convenience of General Government. Two members of my Executive proceed to Wellington on Monday by " Tararua," to confer with General Government with reference to this and other matters, and I shall be glad if you would give them an interview. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. W. Bolleston.

ft No. 12. Messrs. Kennaway and Beswick to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir,— Wellington, 3rd July, 1873. Beferring to the interview which we had the honor of holding with Ministers yesterday, in which the question of immigration to the Province of Canterbury was discussed, and in accordance with the wish then expressed, we have the honor to communicate with you regarding the proposals which the Provincial Government of Canterbury have made in accordance with the resolutions of the Provincial Council, already forwarded to you by His Honor the Superintendent. We understand that the General Government are not prepared to meet out of the Immigration Loan the expenditure involved by the appointment of a Provincial Emigration Agent for the United Kingdom, but that, if the Provincial Government appoints and pays such an officer, the Agent-General will co-operate with him in sending emigrants to Canterbury. In making such an appointment, the Provincial Government would have in view the desirability of the Provincial Agent being able to grant such extra assistance, by means of Provincial funds, as he may deem requisite in particular cases. The General Government having already intimated that any recommendation of the Provincial Government as to the number and description of immigrants which it would be advisable to introduce into any Province would meet with their favourable consideration, it would appear that the duties of the Provincial Agent would be confined to the collection of the number and description thus agreed on, and to his supplementing the assistance given by the General Government in such cases as he may think necessary. As intimated to us at the interview with Ministers yesterday, we understand that subsequent to your telegram of June 20th, the question as to whether the system of free passages shall not be extended to nominated immigrants has been reopened, and will be again considered by the General Government. The Provincial Government, when making the proposal contained in His Honor the Superintendent's telegram of the 26th ult., did so with the understanding that, as stated in the Hon. Mr. O'Borke's memorandum, addressed to His Honor the Superintendent, of April 22nd last, free passages were being offered to emigrants by the Agent-General, and that the General Government's decision as regards nominated emigrants, conveyed in your telegram of the 20th ult., was final. It will therefore be understood that the Provincial Government, on their part, hold themselves free to reconsider their decisions, in case any alteration has been made in either of these points. Pending the final decision of the General Government, we desire to give some further information on some points which were raised at the interview of yesterday relative to this proposal. It will be seen by reference to His Honor the Superintendent's telegram of June 26th, that the Provincial Government submitted for the consideration of the General Government alternative proposals as to the mode in which their decision to grant free passages to nominated immigrants might he carried into effect. In the first place, the Provincial Government asked that authority be given to the Immigration Officer at Christchurch to make such arrangements as would most readily meet their views. As was pointed out yesterday, it is obvious that some restrictions and limit must be placed on the number and description of such immigrants; and it is chiefly on that account, in addition to their wish to act in co-operation with the General Government, that the Provincial Government, in dealing with the matter, desire to avail themselves of the machinery already established in the Province of Canterbury for the purpose of immigration. We understand that the General Government give free passages to single females nominated in the Province, so that the extra assistance given by the Provincial Government would be confined to married couples and single men. If extra aid is therefore given through the Immigration Office, the Provincial Government would propose that it should be only finally granted to persons approved of by the Agent-General or the Provincial Agent, under similar conditions as regards character, health, a^e, and so forth, as may from time to time be in force as regards assisted or free passages granted direct by the A gent-General. Again, with reference to the construction that should be put on the term " nominated immigrants." We understand that under the present system it includes both those nominated by name and those nominated by persons who merely specify the vocation of those whom they wish to bring out. The Provincial Government, in taking any steps in the direction they have indicated, do not desire to disturb this classification, and would therefore be prepared, within certain limits, to extend the benefit of extra aid to both classes, giving, as far as possible, preference to those nominated by name.

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Again, in order to avoid the introduction of too large a number of any particular calling or trade, the Provincial Government would propose to furnish the Immigration Office with a list specifying the maximum number of any one vocation to whom they would within a certain period grant extra aid. The Provincial Government will also take into their consideration whether it would be expedient to call upon those who nominate by vocation to enter into an understanding to give the immigrants so introduced employment when they arrive; but we are at present of opinion that such restriction would not be necessary. In case the General Government adhere to their former decision, not to grant free passages to any class of nominated immigrants, and would prefer that the Provincial Government should deal directly with persons wishing to nominate, we would merely remark that, in doing so, the Provincial Government would be prepared to make arrangements accordingly, and under such regulations as we believe would meet the views of the General Government. We have, &c, Walter Kennaway, Joseph Beswick, Members of tho Executive Council of the Province of Canterbury.

No. 13. Mr. AY. B. E. Brown to Messrs. Kennaway and Beswick. Gentlemen, — Wellington, 4th July, 1873. I am requested by the Hon. the Premier to inform you that your letter of the 3rd instant has only been received this day, and that the Cabinet have not had time to consider it fully as yet, but that an answer thereto will be sent you as early as possible next week. I have Ac, Wm. B. E. Brown, Messrs. AValter Kennaway and Joseph Beswick, Secretary to Cabinet. AVellington.

No. 14 Messrs. Kennaway and Beswick to the Hon. tho Premier. Sir,— Wellington, 4th July, 1873. AYe have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Secretary of the Cabinet, informing us, by your direction, that an answer to the proposals of the Provincial Government of Canterbury, with reference to immigration, will be sent to us as early as possible next week. As we propose returning to Canterbury to-morrow, we regret being obliged to leave without a definite reply, more especially as the matter has been before the General Government for some time, and we were given to understand that it would be finally considered in Cabinet to-day. AYe would venture to urge, therefore, that at any rate such a reply will be afforded us to-morrow (Saturday) before we leave as will enable the Provincial Government to take action. AYe have, &c, Walter Kennaway, Joseph Beswick, Members of the Executive Council of Canterbury.

No. 15. The Hon. W. H. Eeynolds to His Honor AY. Bolleston. A\ rcllington, 27th June, 1873. Sorry cannot reply to telegram re Nominated Immigration to-day. Question coming under consideration of Government in a few days. Tho Superintendent, Christchurch. AVm. H. Eeynolds.

No. 16. The Hon. W. H. Eeynolds to His Honor the Superintendent of Canterbury. AVellington, 26th June, 1873. Your telegram re Nominated Immigrants received ; will belaid before Government to-morrow ; cannot answer to-day. The Superintendent, Christchurch. AVm. H. Eetnolds.

No. 17. The Hon. J. Vogel to Messrs. Kennaway and Beswick. Gentlemen, — AVellington, sth July, 1872. In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, I have the honor to state that a Cabinet meeting was convened (as promised you) yesterday, to consider your proposal; but your letter had not arrived the previous day as expected, and Ministers individually had had no time to consider it.

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I cannot admit that the matter had been some time before the Government, because, as pointed out to you personally, the proposals telegraphed did not accord with what it was understood from you was intended. The Government understood that His Honor the Superintendent desired to arrange that the Immigration Officer should claim from the Provincial Government the nomination fee payable under the present regulations instead of the payment being made by the nominator. This would have relieved the nominator of all responsibility, and, to put an extreme case, it would have been open to any one person to have nominated 1,000 or 5,000 bricklayers or tailors. Mr. O'Borke invited you, if it was your meaning not alone to supply the funds for nomination, but to suggest the substitution of some other hold upon the nominator than that which the present system of deposit supplies, to state your views. You will, I am sure, agree with me, that when proposals of the kind the Province of Canterbury has made are submitted to the General Government, the latter have the right to expect an explicit statement of intentions, and not be content with such a bare outline as the one telegraphed. I have, &c, Julius Vogel. P.S.—Tour letter dated 3rd instant will be answered as early as possible next week.

No. 18. His Honor W. Bolleston to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Christchurch, 6th July, 1872. I have seen the members of my Executive since their return from Wellington, and have to thank the General Government for the courteous reception accorded to them. With regard to the immigration, I hope to get definite reply, especially as to nominated, by to-morrow at latest, as Provincial Government are anxious, in view of next harvest, that no further delay should occur in any action they may decide upon taking. Will you forward decision of General Government by telegram ? The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, AVellington. W. Bolleston.

No. 19. His Honor W. Bolleston to tho Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Christchurch, 26th June, 1872. Provincial Government are prepared to supplement assistance given to nominated immigrants by General Government, so as to make their passages free. Will you authorize Mr. March to make such arrangements as will most readily carry this proposal into effect; or would you prefer that Provincial Government should directly deal with persons wishing to nominate friends, to provide them with funds to meet cash payments required by General Government for assisted passages ? Could you reply to-day ? The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Wm. Bolleston.

No. 20. The Hon. D. Pollen to Messrs. Kennaway and Beswick. Gentlemen, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 10th July, 1873. I have the honor .to convey to you the decision of the Government upon the important questions in relation to immigration raised by the resolutions of the Provincial Council, by the telegrams of His Honor the Superintendent, by your personal interview with the Premier and the Minister for Immigration, and by your letter of the 3rd July addressed to the Colonial Secretary. 1. Upon the question raised by resolutions, the Government had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion already telegraphed to His Honor tho Superintendent, viz.,' —If tho Province appoints and pays for an agent to select immigrants at home, the Agent-General will be instructed to give to the immigrants selected, subject to his approving the selection, passages on the ordinary terms. Further than this the Government do not see their way to go, without involving the contingency of making the charge of immigration a Provincial instead of a General Government responsibility. The cost of immigration being now a Colonial charge, the General Government have to endeavour to apportion the immigrants to the various parts of the Colony in the manner which appears to be at once beneficial to the Colony as a whole, and fair and equitable to the different portions of the Colony, the contributions from which make up the Colonial revenue. Until the question was raised by the Province of Canterbury, the necessity for deciding between the claims of various portions of the Colony had afforded no practical difficulty, for the funds at the disposal of the Government and the number of immigrants they desired to introduce were such as to have induced them to invite from the Superintendents of the various Provinces statements of the largest number of immigrants the introduction of whom they were prepared to recommend ; and in all cases the recommendations were accepted, in addition to liberal provisions being made for nominated immigrants. The Province of Canterbury evinces a laudable desire to spend some of its very large means upon immigration, and in a very becoming spirit it invites the concurrence of the General Government in that expenditure. In dealing with the question thus raised, the Government have to consider how Canterbury may without injustice to the rest of the Colony expend the funds its desires to devote to immigration. 2—D. 10.

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Clearly, if it were permitted, by the payment of a small sum, to induce the General Government to contribute the major portion of the cost of the passages of a number of immigrants in excess of the number that otherwise would be assigned to Canterbury, an injustice would be done to the rest of the Colony. Therefore, the Government have come to the conclusion that they can only concur and sanction any expenditure on the part of Canterbury for immigration in one of two ways. Ist. As indicated in your letter, by such amount of money assistance as the Province may desire to render through its agents at home, to secure for Canterbury the number of immigrants within the year, not exceeding the limit determined on by the General Government. 2nd. If the Province desired a larger number of immigrants than the General Government considered it fair to the rest of the Colony to bring to Canterbury at the cost of the Colony, the Government could only concur in the number being increased by .the Province paying the total cost of such increase. From various causes, which it is not necessary here to refer to, there has been difficulty in speedily procuring the required number of immigrants, and very large discretion has been given to the AgentGeneral, with the view of overcoming this difficulty. It is possible that the representative of the Province in Great Britain might, with funds at his command, be able to judiciously give assistance to immigrants otherwise desirable, but who may be unable to make the contribution to the cost of passages, or the provision for outfit, &c, required by the regulations under which the emigration business is for the time being conducted by the Agent-General. In regard to nominated immigrants, two questions have been raised —namely, whether the Government would grant free passages to nominated immigrants, or whether they would do so on the condition of the Provincial Government paying the deposit ordinarily charged to nominators? The Government gave very careful consideration to the recommendations of the Provincial Council that free passages should be given to nominated immigrants, and have come to the determination that it is not expedient to make any alteration in the present regulations for nominated immigration in the direction of reducing the contribution to the cost of passages required from the nominator. The object of the system of nomination is to enable persons resident and established in the Colony to bring out their relatives or friends upon easy terms. It is true that the persons nominated are not invariably of the class of immigrants best suited to the wants of the Colony, but the counterbalancing advantages of the system as at present established are great, and the Government desire to give it every reasonable encouragement. The rule with regard to nomination has been occasionally relaxed, at the discretion of Immigration Officers, to the extent of permitting persons resident who required servants or artisans of a particular class to designate them by vocation, leaving the task of selection to friends in Great Britain, or to the A gent-General. Such cases were exceptional. The general unfairness and possible abuse of such a privilege, if it were unrestricted, need not be insisted on. There remains to be considered the proposal to allow the Government of Canterbury to pay the deposit. To do so would be open to the objection that it would virtually infringe on the two conditions under which, as already stated, the Government consider it would alone be right to allow the Province of Canterbury to contribute towards immigration. It would not be a payment to assist in procuring the number of immigrants allotted to Canterbury, nor would it be a payment in full for extra immigrants desired. It would, on the contrary, be a very small payment in proportion to the cost it would entail on the Colony. I regret to have to inform you that the Government therefore cannot concur in the Provincial Government, directly or indirectly, paying the deposits for nominated immigrants. You will permit me, in conclusion, to thank you for your exertions on the subject, and to express the hope that the money you expend in the United Kingdom will assist in securing for the Province immigrants suitable to its wants. The Government recognize that the interest which the Government of Canterbury manifests in immigration proves their sympathy with tho policy of colonization which it is the anxious desire of the General Government to give effect to, with a proper recognition of the claims of all parts of the Colony. I have, &c, Messrs. AY. Kennaway and J. Beswick, Daniel Pollen. Members of the Executive Council of Canterbury.

No. 21. His Honor AY. Bolleston to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Christchurch, 10th July, 1873. Re immigrants, thanks for yesterday's telegram. Executive have met to-day; awaiting your reply, I have summoned them again for to-morrow. Have just travelled through the south of the Province, where crops and settlements will be seriously retarded unless there is good hope of hands for next harvest. The next mail is the last which will avail, and due notice will be required of intended return. The Hon. tho Colonial Secretary, Wellington. W. Bolleston. By Authority : Geobge Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington. [Price 6d.]