The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3330, 22 October 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1873.

We liavo no doubt that the Provincial Executive liavo done the host, according to their judgment, in the appointment of an emigration agent, although it is quite open to question whether it would not have been wiser to have availed themselves of the services of Mr Birch or Mr Seaton. Those gentlemen have not had fair play from the Agent-General, and have not met with that cordial support from the Press in the Province to which they were fairly entitled ; yet, they have both done much more than they have received credit for, and because of their experience of the past two years, had they been aided, as we trust Mr Adam will bo assisted, much better results might fairly have been expected. We do not wish to underrate Mr Adam, nor to throw any impediment in the way of his success. He is now a public servant, and we trust the selection has been wisely made, although we confess ourselves very doubtful on that point. So far as we can gather, his main recommendation is that some fourteen or fifteen years ago, he went Home as Immigration Agent, and succeeded in gathering together two or three cargoes of suitable emigrants; most of whom have done well. We are inclined to think it would have been better for Mr Adam to have rested on bis laurels, and allowed some other man, more nearly up to the requirements of the period, to have undertaken the very responsible and difficult office to which he has been appointed. Nearly a generation has passed since he proved himself successful, and conditions are very much changed since then, it is not a few mere tillers of the soil that arc needed now, although any number of them may, and most probably will find ready employment. Neither can Mr Adam hold out the same prospect to the agricultural laborer of rapidly rising to independence, as could be fairly put before him when last he tried his hand, Since his time education has progressed in Great Britain, wages have risen, competition for emigrants has grown up, able and well-educated lecturers and writers advocating the claims of other lands are found in every district; and ho will have to set up the superior advantages of Otago as against the agent for Canterbury and the numerous emissaries of the General Government. For what we know to the contrary, although we have no reason to believe it is so, Mr Adam may have that peculiar gift ot oratory, and that intimate knowledge of the resources of the country that will enable him to give sufficient reason for diverting the stream of immigration in this direction ; but most undoubtedly that gift does not extend to the use of the Press, which, as a means of conviction, is far more powerful than the most eloquent speech. A well-written article, inserted in one of the local journals of Great Britain, reaches in one day ten times as many eyes as the most industrious lecturer can reach ears in three months. If it contains good reasons xvhy Otago should be preferred to all other places—which is the end and purpose of a well-conducted agency—it can be read and re-read, pondered over and deliberated upon, the arguments weighed pro and con., until at length the reader, convinced, resolves to act upon its suggestions. Assuming then that the main object of sending an emigration agent Home is to induce fit persons to come hither, one should have been selected equal to using all the means at command. We scarcely know a more difficult task than finding a man combining all the requisites for a good emigration agent; and have sometimes thought, from slight experience in the matter, that two men able to supplement each other’s efforts would succeed far better in proportion to the expense than one. This was the character of the first emigration agency of which wo have record. When the tsraelitish slaves were to be prepared for leaving Egypt, the chief agent was not a gifted speaker. Moses could produce proofs of the truth of his mission in his own way; but it was necessary that they should be explained, so what he could not do was effected by giving him an eloquent companion in the person of Aaron, and the two combined succeeded. There is so much to do beside the mere talking, writing, and giving information that division of labor would prove a great saving. It f fell to our lot many years ago to have

to get together a number of emigrants for Canada. The task of inducing men and women to move from their native villages was much greater then than now. It was difficult to induce them to make up their minds, but far more difficult to keep them resolved even after they had expressed their willingness to go. The only resource was to pick out the most influential man amongst them and to make it worth his while to shepherd the rest until their arrangements were so far advanced as to render retraction greater loss than going forward. This succeeded, and the number required was made up. What these local men did, could, however, be better and more cheaply done by one connected with the agency, who could not only aid in the general work, but render material service in seeing the immigrants comfortably and cheaply berthed on board of ship. This last duty is as great a point in successful agency as the power of persuasion. Thanks to the enlightened policy of the last few years, the bundling of immigrants into the Province with no more regard to their welfare than if they were sacks of potatoes, is superseded by careful provision for them on landing ; and it must bear fruit in commending Otago at Horae. Equal and even greater attention is required to seeing them on board at the least possible expense to themselves. We wish Mr Adam success, and therefore trust that witli the concurrence of the Provincial Agent, should ho find local help requisite, he will bo empowered to obtain it. He needs every assistance that can be given him, and it would be most short-sighted policy to run the risk of failure, through restricting him to his own unaided efforts in contending against the competition he will have to encounter.