THE TRUTHFUL PREMIER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 905, 22 August 1879, Page 3

THE TRUTHFUL PREMIER.

We wonder if it would be possible to convict Sir Geoige Grey of ever telling the truth. It almost seemed to us the other dav as if one might go so far as not to be quite mre that he had told the reverse. For instance, in speaking to the Wellington working men the other day about immigration, he gave thenr to understand that his Government had always been opposed to the policy of an extende 1 arrival of immigrants from Homo, and that they would long since have put a atop to it but for the powerful pressure of the “ landocracy.” Now, about the po’icy of immigintion we are not going to say anything in the present article All ive want is to ascertain by facts and figures whether it is true or not, as Sir George Grey here takes credit to himself that the Grey Government have been the opponents of the immigration system, ami that it has b"en forced upon them by the employers of labour. Row, as far as the facts go, everybody remembers the decided check that was given to immigration by the Atkinson Government during the year 1877, and how, in obedience to the instructions of the Grey Ministry, it was renewed with increasing vigour as soon as they came into office. In the beginning of 1878 the Agent-General avas informed by the Government that—“We can scarcely have too many people, provided they are of the right stamp, agricultural ablebodied labourers, dairy avomen, and domestic servants.” Rot longer ago that the Bth of April last, Sir George Gmy himself actually telegraphed to the A sent General instructing him to ship “ 1000 immigrants,” to arrive during the “winter months.” Moreover, so far as the correspondence laid before the house bears upon the question, there is not. a bint that the Ministry were doing anything but carrying out a policy of their own, and for which they expected approval. in promoting this large addition to our population. As regards the second branch of Sir George Grey’s statement, we have only to look at the returns. The immigration returns to June 30, 1870, give us not only the total number of immigrants landed during the previous twelve months, but distinguish them into ordinary and nominated. Row, it is a point on which we challenge contradiction, that five-sixths of the nominated immigrants are nominated not by the “landocracy,” but by men who either are, or quite recently have been, working men themselves If, then, there is any considerable proportion of nominated immigrants, the impossibility of convicting Sir George Grey of veracity in tins particular will he at once aoparent. Very well. Tbc whole number of immigrants arriving during the year ending June 30, IS7O, appears to have been 8717, of whom no fewer than 23>3 were nominated. This is the number of nominated immigrants actually arriving. But if we look at the number of nominations received during the same period, we find that they amount to no less f lr'n SO'iO. These figures speak volumes. 1 hey tcli us in language which cannot be mistaken, the opinions which a large proportion of the working men of the colony entertain regarding immigration. Ami that this is no sudden fancy of theirs is evident from the fact that from the commencement of the system there has been a continuous stream of nominations, amounting to over M.flOl) souls. It is unnecessary to pursue the matter further. But what we have said only furnishes additional proof to the already overwhelming evidence on the point, that it is impossible for Sir George 'drey to tell the truth about anything.— Press.