17

D.—2.

that my instructions forbid my sending emigrants to arrive in Otago at a time which would enable, according to Mr. Andrew and Mr. Ottywell, the best selection to be made. I have. &C, The Hen. the Minister for Immigration, Julius Vogel, Wellington. Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 19. Messrs. Andeew and Ottywell to the Agent-Geneeal. Sir, — New Zealand Agency, 3, Hope Street, Edinburgh, 15th May, 1878. Eeferring to your memorandum of the 3rd instant, instructing me to confer with Mr. Andrew and report to you as to the adoption of any means by which the number of Scotch emigrants could be increased, I have the honor to state that I have conferred with Mr. Andrew ; and the following remarks represent our views on the matter: — As to the comparatively small number of Scotch emigrants obtained during last season, the following causes, in our opinion, have contributed to this result, — 1. Tho late period of the year at which emigration was commenced. I have in a previous letter referred to this point. The date at which Scotch shepherds and farm servants leave their yearly or half-yearly engagements is 26th May, and they are usually engaged for fresh service long prior to that date. You may remember that some time since I submitted to you one or more letters from shepherds, stating that the time had arrived at which they were " spoken to " with reference to re-engagements. As our first vessels will not sail until the end of June, and we have hitherto been unable to give any assurance of passages to applicants, we have probably for this season lost a number of agricultural workmen who might, under other circumstances, have been fixed for New Zealand. The same remarks apply to the class of female servants, whose half-yearly term closes 15th May. The first vessels last year did not sail until July, and they will leave at about the same time this year. The large number of servants' boxes lying at tho railway station to-day shows that very many servants are changing their situations this term. I counted, at about 3 p.m, seventy-two servants' trunks on the platform of the Caledonian Station, and this represents only a small portion of this class of traffic in Edinburgh during the present term. 2. Emigration from Scotland to the Australian Colonies appears to have largely diminished as compared with former years. Wages are generally good. And lam unable to find that there is any considerable excess of labour in any of the agricultural or pastoral districts of the country. 3. The restrictions under which emigration to New Zealand has been carried on —■ («.) The free passages last year were confined to farm labourers, shepherds, carpenters, bricklayers, and female servants. This restriction excludes a large section of the emigrating class. (S.) And these passages were refused to families containing more than three young children, including infants. These restrictions were not formerly in force in Scotland, and doubtless occasion the loss of many persons who would otherwise avail themselves of the advantages offered. 4. Mr. Andrew desires specially to point out that tho Scottish peasantry are of very cautious habit, and usually require a long time to make up their minds upon so momentous a matter as emigration ; and that it is therefore of great consequence that we should be in a position to deal with them at the time the applications are made. Mr. Andrew is also of opinion that the office should be always before the notice of the public — that is, that the emigration advertisement, although the wording of it might be altered from time to time, as required, should never be entirely withdrawn. 5. There can be no doubt that the recent practice of absolutely suspending the emigration for six months is a great disadvantage in the successful conduct of the system. Mr. Andrew informs me that the Otago Provincial Government never suspended their emigration, although they reduced the rate of despatch and widened the intervals between the sailing dates during the winter months. This was also generally the practice of the Canterbury Provincial Government. For example, the emigration now closes at the end of November. A vessel might be fixed to sail at the beginning of March following, and the regular sailings resumed in April or May. As to the adoption of means to increase the number of Scotch emigrants this season, — 1. We recommend that the emigration announcement should be much more widely circulated, and should appear in a much larger number of newspapers than was the case last year. Emigration to Queensland has been proceeding for some months, and will no doubt continue during the remainder of the year. Many of our Local Agents act for that colony ; and we shall have to do the preliminary work of the season at a time when other emigration schemes are in full operation. It would therefore be well to adopt a more than usually attractive form of advertisement, and have it well set up, in order that the attention of inquirers may be drawn thereto. 2. Tou will remember that Mr. Jamieson, the Local Agent at Sandness, Shetland, has during the recess written several letters respecting the season's emigration. It has been suggested to me that something might be done by a personal canvas of the district, and that Mr. Jamieson would be the man to do it. The suggestion seems worthy of consideration. If you approve, Mr. Jamieson might be asked to state his views on the subject. No doubt the matter might be so arranged as not to interfere with other Agents, who would be benefited also, as they would be likely to receive more applications and draw a larger commission as the result of Mr. Jamieson's efforts. I have, Ac, The Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Albert 0. Ottywell, 3-D.—2.