IMMIGRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 2823, 6 March 1872, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

To the Editor. Sir, -I am glad to seejthat you from time to time advocate immigration to the Province, upon an extensive scale. There are resident among us a few neer-do-weels who systematically cry down immigration Irom having no other topic to harp upon, and no doubt when the Scandinavians arrive there will be a loud sounding of trumpets among them—and yet the number announced to come here is only a drop in the bucket to what is actually required. There are at present hundreds of settlers who cannot secure their harvest from want of hands, and for female servants tbe Labor Exchange and the registry offices are besieged, and, notwithstanding the highest wages offered, employers cannot obtain them. It is melancholy to think tbe large areas of fertile land in the interior and along the sea-board unoccupied by a population, while thousands in the home country who are paying dear rents for inferior lands would only he too glad to settle upon them if they wore only made aware of the fact. What th nis ho done ? IS!either more not less than immigration on as extensive a scale as possible from Great Britain as well as the Continent of Europe. But, say these wiseacres immigrants cannot be got. 1 his is not true. If experienced agents were sent to the Home country, and go the north of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and the midland counties of England, there would be no difficulty in getting a sui able class -numerous heads of families, as well as young men and women ; for in many parts of Gotland and Ireland thousands have frequently the greatest difficulty in obtaining support for themselves and families. Moreover, a knowledge of the advantages the blony of New Zealand is the most meagre—indeed, in some parts totally unknown. From this penny-wise-and-pound-foolish system of not promoting immigration extensively, our agricultural resources in many instances are going to waste ; cereals exposed to the elements, or, after being secured, destroyed by vermin for want of a market. Our stocks, rapidly decreasing, are depreciated in value, boiled down, and in many instances destroyed for want of consumption ; and thousands upon thousands of our felluw-couutrymen crying out “ Meat! meat!” while there is no meat, or at least they are unable to obtain ir. Let us hear no more of this foolish cry against immigration. Twenty thousand persons might be landed on the shores of this Province alone, and would find enough provisions and to spare. I am, &c., Country Settler. March 4.