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Evening Star, Issue 3326, 17 October 1873, Page 2

There is at length some prospect of immigration being pushed vigorously : Mr Vogel’s first action in regard to it points to his determination to make that part of his plan a success. It is in fact absolutely necessary that it should be attended to, or the public works scheme must prove a failure. It is very doubtful even if the twenty thousand immigrants that he proposes to introduce into the country within a few months, will afford that relief so urgently required by the labor market. There is an evident withdrawal of men from other pursuits for the construction of public works, that will tend to prevent reproductive industries being prosecuted successfully. Gold mining, although not less remunerative than hitherto—-perhaps even more so where systematically followed—is not yielding more in Otago than heretofore \ and there are other pursuits, the requirements of which will not wait, that absorb rapidly all the available hands brought into the country. It is a wise step, therefore, to meet the necessities of the case by granting free passages, for by that means alone is it likely the stream of immigration may bo diverted from the United States and Canada and turned in the direction of this Colony. But if these favorable terms arc conceded, it is to be hoped that the positive instructions given for exercising care in the selection of fitting emigrants will be followed by the Agent-General. All the accounts of immigration agents show that there is an evident striving between them and persons of influence at Home to over-reach each other; the people at Home want to keep the best and ablest among the people, and to get rid of their waifs and strays. Our agents want to select the best and ablest, as being the most likely to benefit themselves and the Colony. When men are expected to pay their passages, otner conditions being fullilled, there is not the same room to object as there will be to bringing out an inferior class free. We need their labor, for it will repay the cost of their passage many times over in a few years. Twenty thousand immigrants mean an increase in the annual revenue of ih'So,ooo, and at the rate of export of tl e last few years an increase of production over consumption of ib'MO,ooo ; it means extension of agriculture and manufactures, building up towns, establishing villages, and constructing laborsaving public works. Without ackli-

tional labor, the development of these must be retarded ; with it, although wages will remain high, work will he abundant.