The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 23, 1893. £100 IMMIGRANTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3086, 23 September 1893, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 23, 1893. £100 IMMIGRANTS.

We notice amongst recent Parliamentary papers one entitled X Emigration of small farmers, etc., to New Zealand." It is a reprint of copies of correspondence between the AgentGeneral of New Zealand and the Government of this colony upon the subject referred to. This correspondence diacloses the existence of a strong feeling on the part of the powers that be in favor of aiding the immigration into this country of what Mr Perceval calls " small farmers with capital." The Agent-General is careful to disclaim any desire of returning to the old policy of immigration. He is sure that New Zealand will be able to obtain from the other colonies for years to come a sufficient number of laborers and artisans to meet any increased demand that may arise for that class of settlers. But he thinks this colony ought to contribute some £8 per head towards the passage money of farmers with capital. The Premier in replying to Agent-General signifies his concurrence with the proposal, and goes on to advise,/ or instruct that officer to "advertise extensively throughout the United Kingdom (the cost of which will be defrayed by the Government)," setting forth the advantages offered to small farmers in this country, and notifying the inducements to emigrate, and, " when satisfied that they are possessed of a certain amount of means (say £100) to see that they are provided with tickets for their passages at reduced rates." A good many years ago such a scheme as this might have been a judicious one. That was when land was obtainable in all parts of the colony, with very little difficulty compared to what is experienced now, and when New Zealand was nofc suffering from over-production. But it certainly does not seem to be sound policy now to spend the taxpayers, money in the manner and ab the rats Mr Perceval suggests; for, what with advertising and subsidising, each immigrant will coat a good round sutn. The general opinion amongst the rural population —of the South Island at any rate—is decidedly adverse to paying farmers to come and compete with them, not only in obtaining the Crown lands, but in growing the staple produce of the country. And this too, with money extracted from those who will be the chief sufferers from the competition. We cannot look upon such a course as this as a wise one, It is true that the towns and large commercial centres would reap some benefit from the introduction of population of almost any sort excepting of course the criminal class. , But if the objections to the old immigration scheme were at all reasonable—if it was then an injustice to the artisan and labouring classes to assist men to come to this country and compete with them, it must, on the same grounds be unjust to subsidise persons to come out now to outbid our farmers and their sons for the land on which they will afterwards assist in increasing the over production from which this colony is suffering. It is all very well for the Agent-General and the Government to talk and write about securing suitable colonists for flew Zealand, and to speculate about the advantages the Colony would derive from the introduction of persons with some means—£loo by the way is the sum the Agent-General is to make certain about, but we have grave doubts whether this system of forcing settlement is necsssary or even beneficial after a certain point has been reached. The population of this country by the law of natural increase will grow quite as fast as will be found comfortable or convenient. In every part of these islands families are rapidly approaching the time when the youag men at least will have to seek their owa Jiviflgs. Indeed there are now in this country aionCj hundreds of young men who, if they could get assistance from the Government equal to that promised to the prospective immigrant, would probably be in a position to make a start for themselves by settling o» the I#nd in some part of New Zealand. There might foe something worth conis>idering,howeyer,in the proposal to assist really desirable settlers to come to this country. But we demur altogether to the proposition laid down by the New Zealand Government that persons possessing £100 have the requisite qualification. That sum jiv-Quld just last long enough to keep the im.rickigrattfc jn. some town until he had decided $n :w.'ha£ .direction he would go. Him Pkig .de^raitfe settler| would pack up, tM& isaW"g W& his| £100 in the town, would precatsti feo his location with very little beyond ttie coftsgipusness that he must be a man of the fight sjbainp, since the Government had gone t© so j#uch trouble to bring him out. And thereafter he would look to this paternal

Government to keep his head above | water, so that if his crops failed he would find a haven of refuge in the Labour Bureau. There are good grounds for farmers protesting against, this sort of thing. The abolition of the ■ j system of assisting labourers to come to New Zealand certainly did not benefit the agricultural community, for it increased the sprice of labour, and so diminished the profits of farming. If the country as a whole agreed 1 to put a stop to it in order to protect those who suffered by its continuance, it is surely inconsistent to inaugurate now a system of assisted immigration which differs from the last only that it affects a different class of the community. We are inclined to think that so far as New Zealand is concerned, the Slate had better leave immigration alone. Let the land laws be as liberal as they can be made, and let really desirable settlers come amongst us if they wish to do so. They will be heartily welcomed and well treated by those who came here before them, and have borne the brunt of civilising and settling these islands. But let the sons of the soil have all the advantages that may accrue from being first in the field. If any concessions are to be granted by the State let the young New Zealander profit by them rather than the assisted immigrant with the £100.