THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2769, 2 January 1872, Page 3

THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND IMMIGRATION.

The Hon. W. Beeves in replying to the toast of the General Assembly at the Ellesmere Farmer’s Club dinner, is reported to have said I think it due to yau to explain personally why I come before you now in the character of a member of Government, 1 think that every action of a public man should be made as public as possible, but in your case I feel that an explanation of the circumstance is especially due, considering that so many of you fought my cause at the late election with so much vigor and with so much goodwill. When I went up to the Assembly, I had no more idea or intention of taking office than any of you here. I can say without any reserve that neither by sign or word did I seek office— (iear, hear, and cheers) —that it was a spon ancons offer on the part of the Government, without any solicitation either direct or indirect on my part—(hear, hear)—that the otter being made to mein so honorable a spirit, I felt that the post could be accepted by me with honor to myself and to the consituency that I represented (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) 1 would not have it go forth to the world that I was the first choice of the Government, because 1 consider that would be sailing under false colors. A gentleman of great ability and talents, and of far greater experience iu public business than myself, vas chqsen, and' would, I belie vc, have taken office with the present Government h?ld it not been, unfortunately, that the state of his health did not peuuit" him to do so ; I allude, of course, to the Hon. Mr John Hall. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) As a member of the Government, I can now spt ak to you, and say a few words on what is the proposed course of action to be taken by them ; but I wish you to understand that the few words I may address to you to-night are not to be taken by any means iu the light of a ministerial statement. I am only giving you some information due to you, as well as to the public, generally, as to the course the Government intend to take in carrying out their policy of progress. _ I need not recapitulate what that policy is, except to repeat that it includes the promotion of public works and the settlement of the country by an increased immigration. (Hear, hear.) lean assure you—l can say it distinctly —that the promises which the Government have held out in the direction of progress they intend to cany out to the fullest extent. (Hear, Hear ) They intend to make railways through this Island and through parts of the Ntq'tK lslan;| wifh as little delay as possible; they intend to increase the quantity of labor to be brought into this country as compared with the rate at which immigration has lately been carried on. (Hear, hear). Orders have been sent home to the Agent-Gencval of the Colony to send out —provided he can obtain a proper*class of immigrants—a number amounting to about 8000 people during the year 187:?. (Hpar, hear.) This, in addition to tlic special immigration which will be carried.on in the North Island by means of Colonel Fielding’s Society, and probably also through the agency of the Messrs Brogdeu, will, trust, eventuate iu increasing the population of these islands next year by at leait people. But it is only right and 'fair to remind you that we are already met with a serious difficulty iu the fact that immigrants of the right class are very scarce in, England, and the attention of the Agent-Gene-ral has been already drawn to Germany, Sweden, and Norway, from which countries, provided the right class of persons can be found, a proportion of the immigration to this country will probably be drawn. Gentlemen, the difficulty which the Government pf this country will have tq contend with is abput to take an entirely different form fVqth that which it lias hitherto assumed. Two years ago the difficulty was to iud uce people to enlarge their views, and to support what is now commonly termed the policy of progress ; that is to say, to induce them to {jppport tlic ( ovpvnffieiit in pledging the predit of the colony for these public works ; hut that difficulty has in a great measure disappeared, and its place been taken by another of a very different kind.