IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1873 Session I, D-01c

D.—lc

1873. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE.)

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 17 th September, 1873.

The Hon. D. Pollen to the Agent-General, London. (No. 101.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— AVellington, 27th August, 1873. I have the honor to inform you that your three letters (No. 375, 11th June, 1873; No. 382, 12th June, 1873; No. 419, 13th June, 1873) have been brought specially under the notice of the Government on account of the very unusual manner in which they are phrased. 1. Even had the tone you adopted been more courteous, and less insubordinate, the Government would not have considered that they were called upon to defend the instructions they have given to you. It is from no desire to do so, but simply to enable you to understand the views of the Cabinet on the subject, that I briefly refer to the second and third of the letters mentioned. 2. The instructions to which in these letters you seem to refer, and of which, in the latter of the two, you so bitterly complain, appear to be those which prohibited your'renewing a contract with Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. On your arrival in London you appeared to be fully sensible of the evils of Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co.'s monopoly (See your letter, No. 284, 24th May, 1872). The Government recognized the same evils, and regretted the contract into which you had entered with those gentlemen. On your applying for permission to renew it, you were prohibited from doing so, when you telegraphed out the singular appeal, " Don't imperil thousands lives entrusting service inexperienced hands." Still the Government adhered to their determination. They then found that under a system of calling for public tenders, you had agreed to pay Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. the enormous price of £17 per statute adult. It is true that, pursuing their usual policy, Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co., on the advent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, reduced their rates and induced you to agree for four more ships. But this did not render it less necessary to break down Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co.'s monopoly. The Government saw that, in the interest of the Colony, the monopoly must be put an end to; and in order to do so, they, with great reluctance, entered into an arrangement which gave for six months a monopoly to the local company. The Government do not regret the cost of upsetting Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co.'s monopoly ; they only regret that the task was left to them instead of being performed by you. Had you arranged privately through respectable brokers for each ship you required, the Government think you might have employed Messrs. Shaw, Saville, and Co. only to the extent you cousidered desirable, and that you might have escaped their exorbitant demands. 3. I take the opportunity of observing that, commencing as you did with unfettered powers, the Government have only interfered with and specially instructed you, as they found the exigencies of the service required. The irregular manner in which you have conducted your correspondence has occasioned much inconvenience and anxiety on this side. 4. The Government are aware that you have suffered from serious illness ; and they recognize the devotion with which, in spite of it, you showed your desire to continue to discharge the duties of your office. Much of the irregularity of your correspondence is no doubt attributable to this cause, and the Government desire also to attribute to it the discourteous letters under consideration. I have to remind you of the cordial terms which should exist between an officer holding so high a position as yourself and the Government, and to request you to conduct your correspondence in future in a more becoming manner. Ministers expect that you will endeavour to give effect to their wishes ; and that you will do so, not in a carping spirit, but with a desire to promote their views to the utmost. If you consider it would be disadvantageous to carry out any instructions you receive, you should at once telegraph your reasons, and ask for fresh instructions ; but as a rule you should consider that it is meant you should follow the instructions sent you. The Government desire that, whether or not the New Zealand Parliament is about to meet, you should regard it as your duty to reply monthly to all communications you receive from them, as well as to forward any information at your disposal which you may consider likely to be of interest to the Colony. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Daniel Pollen. • _—_ By Authority : Gkobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington—lB73. Price 3d ]