IMMIGRATION: CONCESSIONS MADE TO SUITABLE PERSONS COMING TO NEW ZEALAND BY THE SHAW, SAVILL, AND ALBION AND NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANIES (CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL SHOWING).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1896 Session I, D-05

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1896. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION: CONCESSIONS MADE TO SUITABLE PERSONS COMING TO NEW ZEALAND BY THE SHAW, SAVILL, AND ALBION AND NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANIES (CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AGENT-GENERAL SHOWING).

Presented to both Hmises of the General Assembly by Command, of His Excellency.

Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 13th June, 1895. I beg to transmit copy of letter, and my reply thereto, relating to the system of granting passages at reduced rates to persons having capital. You will remember that in 1893 I was able, with your sanction, to make an arrangement with the New Zealand Shipping Company by which, at a very small cost to the Government, passages of all classes were granted at reduced rates to persons approved of by myself as likely to prove suitable settlers, and that under this arrangement, which lasted for two years, some eight hundred persons went to the colony taking with them about £100,000 of capital. In the early part of this year the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company expressed their willingness to join with the New Zealand Shipping Company in granting reduced-rate passages to the class of passengers to which I have referred. But considerable difficulty ensued, owing to the Australian shipping lines taking objection to the New Zealand companies taking passengers at rates lower than the ordinary rates, and this difficulty was only surmounted by its being agreed that during the succeeding twelve months only second- and third-class passengers should receive the benefit of the reduced rates, and also that the reductions should be materially lessened. Thus the reduced rate for second-class passengers was, for instance, raised from £28 to £31 10s. I need not enter further into the circumstances of the case, as Mr. Ward, during his stay here made himself fully acquainted with them. There is no doubt that the present system, after the present twelve-months arrangement has terminated, is not unlikely to lapse owing to the action of the Australian shipping companies, and that the only way open for the purpose of encouraging this desirable class of settlers to go to New Zealand will be by the Government stepping in and giving such material aid as will still offer to persons with capital the inducement of having reduced rates of passage ; an inducement which, I may add, is much valued by the class of people it is intended to reach. The persons encouraged to go out, bringing, as they would, capital with them, would promote, both directly and indirectly, the well-being of every class of our settlers, whether employed or employers; and an expenditure, say, of a few pounds per head would, I believe, be amply repaid by the advantages thus gained, and would enable New Zealand to compete on favourable terms with other colonies and countries for a class of settlers who, by their means and characters, would be welcome additions to the population of our colony. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. B. Peecivad.

Deae Sir,— 138, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C., 17th May, 1895. We think that the presence of the Hon. J. G. Ward in London affords a favourable opportunity of specially bringing under the notice of the New Zealand Government the advantages derived from the system, which has now been at work for the past two years, of granting a reduced rate of passage to persons having capital who desire to leave this country with the object of settling as farmers in the colonies. We need scarcely point out that it is now most fully recognised that those who by frugal and careful industry have accumulated some small capital form a most desirable class of coloniete. They know by experience that to be successful they must exercise economy and think out for

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themselves how to make the cultivation of the soil profitable, and it is this class that the reduced rate of passage has encouraged. That the New Zealand Government are well aware of the advantage of having settlers of that description, the policy which has of late years been adopted sufficiently shows. Some years ago the system was adopted of the Government giving £5 towards the passages of persons such as those to whom we refer, and when you yourself came to England as AgentGeneral one of your first steps was to urge the Government to resume that system. The Government, however, did not see their way to offer any pecuniary assistance towards the passages, and after some negotiation it was arranged with the New Zealand Shipping Company to grant, under certain conditions, passages at reduced rates to persons approved by yourself, and for two years the system has been in operation. We feel you will agree with us that this system thus adopted has proved successful. While the numbers of such persons going to other colonies has materially diminished, the number going to New Zealand has not decreased to anything like a proportionate extent. But the fact that some seven hundred or eight hundred people have gone out under this system with capital of at least £100,000 is, we think, sufficient evidence of its success. We also believe that these people have, with few exceptions, proved valuable settlers, a credit to themselves, and a credit to the colony to which they have gone. As you are aware, this system is to be continued for another year by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company. We need not recapitulate the special difficulties which had to be met in making the necessary arrangements—they have been overcome for the present; but, in view of what will probably occur on the expiration of the present agreement with the two companies, we think it would be very desirable that the New Zealand Government, through their representatives, should, as far as possible, be placed in possession of the circumstances of the case, in order that they may consider whether, in the interests of the colony, they could support in a more material way than at present a system which, as regards all classes of the community, is, we believe, of great advantage. We would therefore ask you to arrange so that a deputation of those interested in the matter may wait upon Mr. Ward and yourself, with a view of representing to the Government the importance of their doing their utmost to enable the present system to be continued, if possible, on more favourable conditions than it is at present conducted. We are, &c, T. B. Wkstbay and Co. The Agent-General for New Zealand, 13, Victoria Street.

Di.AjR Sibs,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 21st May, 1895. I am in receipt of yours of 17th instant, in which you ask for an interview with the Hon. J. G. Ward and myself, on the subject of assisted passages to the colony. I have conferred with Mr. W T ard on the subject-matter of your letter, and he wishes me to state that he is in full sympathy with the proposal made in your letter, and on his return he will lay the matter before his colleagues. Mr. Ward regrets that he cannot spare time to meet the deputation as you propose. I propose, therefore, forwarding a copy of your letter to the Premier, reporting what action has been taken, and on my own behalf recommending the matter for favourable consideration. I am, &c, W. B. Pebcival. Messrs. T. B. Westray and Company, 138, Leadenhall Street, E.C.

Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 24th February, 1896. Referring to my letter, No. 408, of the 16th April last, I beg to inform you that I have retiewed for another twelve months the existing arrangements with the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, under which persons with capital, approved by me, are provided with passages to New Zealand at reduced rates. I attach hereto a statement showing the number of persons who have received passages under this system, by which you will see that within the three years 1,110 persons have gone out, taking with them £131,089 declared capital. In many instances, however, the people availing themselves of the reduced rates contented themselves with giving the minimum amount of capital required under the regulations, so that the actual amount of capital taken no doubt considerably exceeded the declared amount. It may also be noted that some of those who went out were possessed of fixed incomes, which is in addition to the amount of declared capital. I am inclined to think that the system, as worked for the last three years, has resulted in bringing to the colony a number of good working settlers, to their own advantage, and also to the advantage of those already there. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, W. B. Pebcival.

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Statement showing the Number of Persons who received Reduced-rate Passages during the Three Years ending February, 1896; also the Amount of Passage-money and Capital taken by them to the Colony:—

Approximate Coat of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,225 copies), .£2 ICS.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB96. Price 3d.l

Date. Steamer. Souls. o Passage-money. Capital. 1893. £ s. a. £ s. a. March 27 March 30 April 29 May 25 June 27 July 20 August 17 September 14 October 12 November 9 December 7 1894. Kaikoura Tongariro Aorangi... Eimutaka Euahine... Kaikoura Tongariro Euapehu Aorangi... Eimutaka Euahine... 1 12 26 17 38 26 27 32 52 53 19 1 10* 20| 14* 371 22* 26 28* 45-1 431 17 28 0 0 243 12 0 331 13 0 343 7 0 820 12 0 508 2 0 696 18 0 671 2 0 1,018 4 0 839 10 0 411 14 0 600 800 1,330 3,021 3,905 1,610 4,442 2,300 7,580 4,625 1,031 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 January 11 February 8 Kaikoura Euapehu 4 32 4 28* 110 0 0 610 18 0 1,820 6,410 0 0 0 0 Total 339 299* 6,633 12 0 39,474 0 0 1894. March 8 April 5 May 3 May 31 June 28 July 26 August 23 September 20 October 13 November 15 December 13 1895. January 10 February 7 Aorangi... Eimutaka Euahine... Kaikoura Euapehu Aorangi ... Tongariro Euahine... Kaikoura Eimutaka Euapehu 17 49 14 19 53 66 54 55 59 32 27 16* 42.1 11* 16 471 521 48 45* 52 271 24 359 8 1,034 7 265 6 279 16 1,193 11 964 11 1,262 14 990 0 1,228 8 756 18 737 6 0 0 6 0 6 0 9 0 0 0 0 780 0 0 5,350 0 0 2,270 0 0 370 0 0 6,400 0 0 9,662 0 0 4,800 0 0 3,700 0 0 4,982 14 8 2,164 4 0 3,610 0 0 Tongariro Euahine... 4 13 3i 13 75 5 339 0 0 0 200 0 0 2,335 0 0 Total 462 400 9,486 11 9 47,123 18 8 1895. March 7 April 4 May 2... May 30 June 13 June 27 July 11 July 25 August 22 September 19 October 3 October 17 October 31 November 14 November 28 December 12 1896. Kaikoura Eimutaka Buapehu Tongariro Tainui ... Euahine Gothic ... Aorangi ... Eimutaka Euapehu Ionic Kaikoura Tainui ... Euahine Gothic ... Tongariro 11 29 7 23 20 24 20 21 40 16 5 22 9 17 5 15 10J 241 7 19 14* 20 15 21 34* 13" a 19 6 14* 5 12 246 10 468 5 140 14 470 13 334 3 447 13 226 16 490 7 635 6 184 16 69 6 467 5 129 18 334 19 140 0 200 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 4,150 0 4,019 13 830 0 2,006 0 596 0 2,100 0 1,610 0 9.870 0 6,180 0 300 0 600 0 2,500 0 600 0 2,300 0 610 0 4,000 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 January 9 February 6 Eimutaka Euapehu 13 12 11 10 295 6 201 12 6 0 1,400 0 820 0 0 0 Total 309 261 5,483 11 2 44,491 13 2 Summary. 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 (February 6, 1896) 339 462 309 299| 400 261 6,633 12 9,486 11 5,483 11 0 9 2 39,474 0 0 47,123 18 8 44,491 13 2 Total 1110 9601 21,603 14 11 131,089 11 10