THE RACE FOR IMMIGRANTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3359, 25 November 1873, Page 3

THE RACE FOR IMMIGRANTS.

Emigration is greatly exercising the Australian Agents-General in London just now, \ ictoria makes no sign on this side the water it is true, but nil the other colonies are fully alive to the necessity for shipping men and women to a country in which they aro so much wanted. The Australian Emigration Agent in Europe who docs his duty at this time, has no sinecure in the possession of his office. On the Continent 11 hard linos” arc being dealt out to them. The Prussian Government last month had forbidden any save native-born German subjects to act ns such agents, and now the license of many such has been taken away. *1 he exodus continues, however, and America is the great gainer. There is not much to be wondered at m this, fur the Americans understand the value of indirect influences upon men thoroughly. They issue few hand-books, nor are their advertising expenses anything to speak of, hut in every likely locality they have nun-recognised agents, and these persons arc perfectly acquainted from practical experience with the various parts of the States of which the venture to speak. They know the places, have been there, and consequently speak with authority, and the people believe them, and act accordingly. Tne Australian system of_ promoting emigration differs from this materially. To a very great extent the old routine of the Grown Emigration Commissioners is rigidly adhered to. Red tape and printed forms are greatly affected, wliilst the proprieties of officialdom are strictly adhered to. That even this mode of procedure has some advantages cannot be denied, but the whole sytem wants remodelling sadly. The Agent-General for New Zealand is, perhaps, less trammelled by routine than any other, and “he has had his reward.” During the past month he has despatched four vessels. The Star of India has sailed for Canterbury with 320 emigrant soul* aboard. The Surat has started from Dunedin with 270, and the City of Dunedin sailed from Glasgow for the same city with 134. Yesterday the Salisbury cleared out of London with 250 emigrants for Wellington. She also took out a number of emigrants on behalf of the (’olonists’ Aid Society. These figures hardly hear out a statement made by an agent whom Dr Featherstone had to relieve of his to ! he effect that the Agent-General was restricting emigration. Mr Daintrce, who is unfortunately ■urn ewl.at indisposed just now, has despatched the Winifred with 450 passengers, and will send forth the Tim Whittier with 400 more on October 15. Notwithstanding that the agentgeneral for New South Wales is so heavily handicapped in the matter of assisted passengers, he has received fifty applications. Such as he may approve of will be forwarded shortly. Mr Dutton, although last in the field, shows more than a fair result for his work. In the matter of handbooks- in English and German -he has distributed over 30,000 copies, and he has already over 500 applicants on his books. Of these, 250 will sail in the Earl of Dalhousie on October 7, and on that day month 250 more will he forwarded in a ship not yet named. In uldition to all this, the Government has chartered the Naval Brigade, of the London Line, to convey pensioners and their families, to the number of 200, to Western Australia, so that, on the whole, we have n tolerably good account of Australian emigration to render this month. It ought to be better, hut before that result is obtained the tystem must be altered somewhat. Mr Arch, the representative of the Agricultural Laborers’ Union, ami a man worthily trusted, is nowin Canada judging for himself as to the desirability of English laborers emigrating there. He will, loubtlcss, bring home a good report ; bub if the Australians arc true to themselves, they will tell a plain unvarnished talc of well-doing that shall eclipse all the glories of Canada or the States. The action should be prompt, and thou the result would be certain. —Home New*.