CO-OPERATIVE EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 189, 17 August 1870, Page 2

CO-OPERATIVE EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND.

The following, signed "A Colonist, appeared in the Times of June 16: —" There are great openings now in both islands of New Zealand for a large scheme of emigration on the primciples of co-operative societies. Three events have tended to bring great tracts of land into the market, which offer ready-made opportunities for carrying on the business of sheep andcattle runs, and commencing agricultural operations on a large scale. These tkree events are the (Trojan) war of the last ten years, the fall in the price of wool, and the collapse of the flax trade. I believe that it would be possible just now to purchase a quarter of a million nearly contiguous acre. in each island for 7s. 6d. an acre, and to buy the sheep at present running on them for half-a-crown a head or less. A co-operative society might buy 100,000 contiguous acres, and the sheep upon then, with all the plant and apparatus of sheep station. The co-opera-tive society should consist of —1. Of ths younger sons of gentry who have some little capital, but no opening in this country for their tastes or gifts. 2. Of practical sheep and cattle farmers. 3. Of agriculturists. _. Of mechanics —such as carpenters, brickmakers, bricklayers, wheelwrights, weavers, tailors, and cobblers. 5. Of shepherds and labourers. 6. Of two or three accountants thoroughly versed in the principles of a co-operative society, and two or three surveyors. The advantages of this plan would be—l. That the labourers and mechanics, having an interest in the property, would remain on the estate, instead of running off to the goldfields in New Zealand or other colonies. 2 That it would not be necessary to pay them in cash the full wage of the colony ; but half of the day's wage should be paid in cash, and the other half pat to the men's ac. ount as share of the purchase money of the estate. 3. The sons of the gentry would learn their business as surveyors, as sheep farmers, or agriculturists, and not reeeiTe any salary for their work till declared competent but only a fair interest for the capital advanced. 4. A body of men living together in one society would consume much of their own produce j but by the very fact of thsir having the same local interests they woolbecome a political power in the province, and could obtain from the local or Colonial Governments aid in making roads, and bridges, and in supporting schools and hospitals, ando-Mf such public advantages that immigrants now lose by dotting themselves over the country, and having no joint interests. 5. The religious bodies in England would probably lend a helping hand to such societies at their first start, and provide them with clergy and schoolmasters, and means of erecting churches and school-houses. 6. The effect of the abovementioned advantages would bo to attract a number of well-principled mechanics and labourers who are now loth to leave England because they have to part with all the soc__ and religious privileges they have enjoyed at home, and which they desire to impart to their children; and many of the aristocracy and gentry of the land would send out you_g« members of their families in company with tenants and farm labourers, attached to their several families and parishes. 7. Two or three professional men could easily be found to accompany such a body of emigrants. 8. But, it is to be observed, that the more societies, and the greater the number of the members, and the more contiguous to each other the several societies, the greater their political power and means of opening markets, and supplying the populations of the goldfields."