Immigration to New Zealand.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 190, 1 July 1873, Page 7

Immigration to New Zealand.

A London correspondent of the Auckland Herald says Old Dr Featherston, with his aristocratic suites of offices in the West End, lounging (during his office hours) on the best West End spring couch in his Turkish dressing-gown and smoking cap, presenting to the uninitiated the appearance of being the Agent-General for Turkey rather than that of the struggling young colony of New Zealand, whose life-blood is being drained for a different purpose. There are many matters wrong in this arrangement. The office (only London one) is too costly, and should be situate in the East End of London, where all the business is done. The present office is too distant, and therefore inconvenient. Canada and America have their offices right in the heart of the shipping business. At present the intending emigrant has to run to and fro—from agent’s office to vessel and outfitters—from one end of London to another. This point would not matter so much elsewhere, but in England it makes all the difference. The clerks and parasites are too numerous ; Agent-General smokes his cigar and lounges a la Turk ; clerks talk scandal, and all wait for the emigrant to knock at the door. This policy does not answer, when competing with other countries presenting free land, free passages, and short passages, together with the shameful opposition of the ‘ royal’ aristocratic and capitalist organs against anyone leaving the country, fearing the present slaves will thereby have to be paid and treated as men. A recognised shipping firm would have done fifty times more good with the money. By present arrangement, every emigrant is likely to cost the colony fifty pounds.”