D.—s

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