MR REEVES ON FREE-NOMINATED IMMIGRATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 24, 11 October 1873, Page 8

MR REEVES ON FREE-NOMINATED IMMIGRATION.

Mb Reeves, in the course of his speech on immigration, said — " As a proof of how well understood and how well appreciated the old svsSTui f?° minßt , ce u d is, I would point to the experience of the last few months in Canterbury. Since the Province has granted iree passages, in spite of the very .great drawbacks which arise from the necessarily complicated system, the result has been, that the number ot applications has increased from fifty or sixty a month to 600 in one month, and 534 in another. I believe if the hon. member would look into this question, if he would bring his whole mind to bear upon the question, give it even a few days' close attention, he would agree with me on these two points j that free passages and assistance to the port of destination, freedom from vexatious trumpery charges, and even where necessary, assistance to those who were unable to leave their villages should be given, and a system of free nominated immigration should be granted here. Sir, I believe that within the next twelve months, if the Government were to publish to-morrow that applicai!?™o £ cc . noinillate <l immigration wouli be received, at least 10,000 applications wouid be made from within the Colony ,- and that if a system of monetary assistance and free passages, such as I have spoken of, were established for emigrants at Home, as many more would be obtained from there. I say the needs of the Colony require at least that number; the demand for labor, as the hon. member well knows iutf^ZSS.***™**"* 1 " theC °W,more especial*