THE Evening Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1954, 10 August 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1869.

The last number of the New Zealand Hansard contains the record of much calculated to interest every Colonist. Much as the Electric Telegraph reveals to us, it only gives fitful glimpses of what passes in the General Assembly, and in so disjointed a form that no clear conception can be formed of the progress of the Session. Even the very full telegraphic report of the Treasurer’s Financial Statement only gave an outline of his plans. His reasons for adopting the conclusions at which he has arrived, are now before us. Information on Colonial Legislation may be very coni'eniently divided into two sections, both of which relate to the future. In the first may be classed all Acts passed without giving the people affected by them opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the justice or injustice, desirability or undesirability, of them. This may be said to include every past Act of the Assembly. The other includes propositions respecting measures thought to be very desirable, but not to be brought forward this Session. With regard to the first, the duty of the public is in most cases to agitate their repeal or amendment as soon as passed ; with regard to the second, to gather together the soundest information so that acting through their representatives, the folly of hasty legislation may in future be avoided. Mi Vogel pointed to one subject that the present Government purpose turning attention to during the coming recess, which should receive the earnest consideration of every colonist, —that of Immigration. It has long been plain to every one who has studied the subject, that immigration has been conducted hitherto upon no definite or settled principles. The pressure of affahsat Home has rendered making a living difficult; and with the vaguest possible

notions, emigrants have set out for New Zealand knowing little of what was to be done there, whether their peculiar attainments or talents were in request, or ■where was the likeliest spot to use their efforts to the best purpose. We do not say that no effort has been made in different Provinces to remedy this evil, but it is certain that very limited success has attended the _measures proposed. It is surprising, in fact, that more disastrous results have not followed. None of us know the disappointed hopes, the weary struggling to find a profitable calling, the gradual sinking that many have to endure, before finding employment suited to them. Many bear their reverses in silence and bravely struggle on, while others lose their courage and allow themselves to despond. Mr Vogel proposes to remedy this, and lays down propositions as the basis of the scheme that, if not new, are worthy the consideration of the Colony. Alluding to the present desire on the part of the Home Country to assist emigrants, he truly says, the interests of the “ Imperial and Colonial “ Governments are entirely diverse. “ It is the interest of the Imperial “ Government to rid the country of “ the worst part of the population ; it “ is that of the Colony to obtain the “ the best.” There can be no doubt that it has been the prevailing idea in England that the refuse of her population can be profitably employed in her Colonies,; that the idle, the profligate, and the criminal may be made useful —at any rate, that having left the shores of Britain, all responsibility with regard to them has ceased Selfish and cruel as is such a policy, it has been acted upon. Mr Vogel’s idea is, that it is undesirable that a system of immigration should be conducted by a Government, and that there should be some intermediate agency, whose business it would be to select assisted immigrants, to give them guidance in their efforts to obtain employment, and to see that the assistance rendered should be “ faithfully “ and rigidly repaid ” : the Government at the same time having “ much discretion left to it.” The agency, whatever form it took, would have to estimate what proportion of a given number of immigrants would he successful and the reverse, and the Treasurer invites from without as well as from within the Colony, information as well as specific “ offers and propoii gals for carrying out a continued “scheme of immigration, allied with “ settlement.” A scheme of semi-mili-tary settlements evidently forms one feature in Mr Vogel’s ideal. He does not exactly say so, but he says, “ We “ make no doubt that within as well as “ without the Colony, persons will be “ found willing to undertake to form “ settlements on the island on land “ which the Crown, without violation “ of any rights, or without proceeding “ to any fresh confiscations will be able “to place at their disposal. Such oilers “ have, in more than one instance “ been made respecting the Pa tea dis- “ trict, and proposals of the kind are “ now maturing at home. Even the “ settlers already located in some of “ the out-districts would find it “ a benefit to be able to associate to- “ gether for the purposes of self-defence, “ and of framing, within limits, bye- “ laws to govern and unite them, and “ to aid the promotion of the industries “in which they are engaged.’ lhat some such plan is highly desirable must be evident, although it involves difficulties of no ordinary nature. It is mainly owing to want of system that Northern troubles have come upon us. The idea thrown out suggests means suited to the requirements of the country. They need discussion, in order that they may he shaped and framed into the best possible form, and if judiciously carried out, a gradual and rapid advance in prosperity and security may be looked for.