The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1912. IMMIGRATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1534, 2 September 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1912. IMMIGRATION.

The discussion in the House of Representatives on Friday evening on the first items of the Estimates served to introduce some interesting comments on quite a variety of subjects, but none of more importance than the question of immigration. For some considerable, time past the Ward Government shirked the introduction of overseas additions to our population, and perhaps this is not altogether surprising.- There has been a strong and quite , mistaken objection to immigration on the part of a large section of the Labour party, and the Ward Government,, with its ear to tho ground for any sound which might indicate the direction in which votes were moving or likely to move, deemed it advisable to act warily in this matter. A certain number of domestic servants were brought into New Zealand by means of _ assisted passages, and a few families of selected immigrants were also assisted, but the total number was comparatively small. What Mr. Isitt said on Friday about some of those assisted to come here is perfectly true. Some of them were very undesirable immigrants. We do not know that the Ward Government were to blame for this. Possibly they should have learned from their officials here that a certain proportion of those coming out to the Dominion wore not of a desirable class, and they should have stirred up tho New Zealand agents in London to check this, but it is not an easy task always to prevent unsuitable persons getting passages either by means of personating others to whom passages have been issued or by fraudulent references. For a considerable time past the agents who make it their business to advertise the overseas dominions and to induce suitable people to emigrate thereto appear to have been set aside by the New Zealand authorities in London. A few days ago we published a_ letter from a correspondent on this subject, pointing out what was being done by his firm for other countries, and deploring the inaction of New Zealand. We do not know that the employment of these agents is the best means of securing the best class of immigrants from the Dominion's point of view. The paid agent as a rule is more concerned with securing numbers rather than quality, but with a proper cheek on the selection made, these agents can be turned to very good Account, particularly in the country districts.

What is most- waulnc! in New Zealiuul at tlu: present time is, of course, farm labour. _ It is not an easy thing f.u get, and it is not an easy thing to keep when ,vou have got it. Domestic servants are all very well in

| their way, but a;-e of less importance to the _ coujjjiry than farm workers, ihcre vni class of immigrant, however which it would be well worth che country's while to give special attention to. That is the farmer with n fair amount of capital—suificient to enable him to take up Imnli land, and put, it into working shape without having' to worry about how he is going to support his family while he is clearing and grassing and fencing his holding. This class of immigrant would lie a very valuable asset to tile country, and the Government might well make provision to encourage him. One of the greatest discouragements met with by imBiigrants is the difficulty they often experience after arrival in 'finding land to settle on. If they go in for Crown land they have to take the chances of a ballot, and may suffer disappointment again and again. Why should not ihe Government set aside blocks of land for farmcr-im-migrants with small capital ! If they possessed the knowledge that on arrival here they would have the opportunity of immediately taking up sections, and that the Government would have an agent to meet them, and advise them how to proceed and practically start them on their way, it would be a special inducement likely to attract a-better class of immigrant than would otherwise venture out here. The new High Commissioner, Mr. T. Mackenzie, has, we given a good deal of thought to this question, and he can be relied on to bestir' himself actively should the Government instruct him to endeavour to secure immigrants who_will make good farm mv 1 8 a Suitable small farmers, lhose who oppose an active immigration policy are chiefly the workers in industries and labourers who fear an overstocked labour market. £<o doubt their objection is reasonable enough so far as unskilled lab' our is concerned, and also in respect ( of most of our skilled trades. But m the matter of farm -labour and small farmers, immigration is urgently needed; and it is to the advantage of t all _ that an energetic policy in this direction should be pursued. The opening up and settlement of the Dominion's waste lands and the more intense cultivation of the lands already settled must increase the country's wealth, add to its prosperity, and benefit all classes of the community.