PROVINCIAL MANAGEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS WITHIN THE COLONY.

Evening Star, Issue 3332, 24 October 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL MANAGEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS WITHIN THE COLONY.

The following circular to tlje Superinten. dent of Wellington, and whiph, no doubt, has been sent by the Minister for Immigration to the various superintendents throughout the Colony, is published for public information Immigration Office, Wellington, October 11, 1873. Sir,—l have the honor to inform you that it is the desire of the O-oveminent to arrange with the Provincial Governments to take charge, as far as may be possible, of immigrants on their arrival in the several Provinces, and to investigate and report upon the arrangements, &c., for and during the voyage of each vessel. I have, therefore, to ask whether you are willing to take such charge, upon the following conditions : —(1.) That you act in conformity with the instructions you from time to time recti vo from the Minister for Immigration. (2.) That, subject to the }ast conditt n, you ho guided in the usual manner ! by the adWie ©f your Executive. (3.) That the Immigration Officer be umler your direction, but still be at liberty to communicate directly with, and to receive communications directly' from the Minister for Immigration, should occasion lor such direct communication arise. (I.) That you do not incur any cxjnmditure on behalf of the department without .authority for the same. (5.) That you take charge of the immigration barracks and depots, and the quarantine build l ings ; the iiuinigiatioK department providing a fair sum to meet'necessary expenditure. 1 ►Should it be deemed advisable, at it ho doubt will be, to establish depots for immigrants in the interior of the Province, I should roly Upon your aiding the Government to do so at

least possible expense, both in respect to obtaining buildings cheaply and the general management of the depots; , . The Government do not, by these proposals, deprive themselves of the right to deal directly with the question of special settlements. They are, however, at present of opinion that such settlements can best be founded with the active aid and co-operation of the Provincial Govern ments ; and they are not indisposed to entertain proposals with the object of founding such settlements. When the labor market is better supplied, it will be important to establish general labor exchange offices, \vpon the plan of those which have been found beneficial in various parts of the United States. At present, however, the demand for labor is so great that elaborate machinery of the kind is not required. I sugest for your consideration the appointment of unpaid boards in various parts of the country, composed of ladies and gentlemen who gratuitously will _ give their services for the purpose of receiving immigrants on their first arrival, and giving them such friendly' aid and counsel as it may be in their power to render. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of creating a favorable impression on the minds of immigrants on their first arrival. First impressions are proverbially lasting, and based on those first impressions will, in a large majority of cases, be the recommendations the immigrants send Home to their friends to come out or stay where they are. It is not proposed to discontinue the services of the Immigration Commissioners, but they will be required to report to you, sending at the same time a duplicate to me. I have to express the hope that, should you undertake the proponed duties, you will keep mo promptly and fully supplied with information respecting the manner iu which the immigrants are brought out, and their health and comfort attended to. Yon are aware that it is part of tiro duty of the immigration officers to receive nominations for immigrants, and to see to the collection from immigrants of amounts due under thoii promissory notes. It may be desirable to leave it for tlie present an open question whether these duties of the immigration officer should Vie performed in direct communication with this department, or under the instructions of the Provincial Government. Upon this question I shall be glad to be informed of your opinion. Whilst this department will be prepared to allow a reasonable expenditure for purposes of the same character as those the coat of which it now defrays, I shall not he prepared to sanction any expenditure which ought to be defrayed out of Provincial funds. For example, claims have been sent in for the maintenance of immigrants in hospital. .Surely, if the 1 olony brings out the immigrants, they should be entitled to the same consideration as the ordinary residents in the Provinces. I beg to observe that it is not proposed you should correspond with the Agent-General. It should be clearly understood that, should the arrangement now suggested be found not to work well, the Government will hold themselves at liberty to put an end to it. 1 am, however, of opinion that it will work wed, and that the Provincial Governments will be able to materially aid the General Government in promoting suitable immigration to the Colony.