IMMIGRATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3782, 8 April 1875, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

Mr Duncan, who went Home at the end o! 1873 as hj migration Agent for Canterbury, has returned to the Colony, and, in reporting the result of his operations in Britain, says;—

There is a considerable amount of confusion caused at Home—necessarily so to a large extent by the Provinces not appearing to have one aim, or to be free from jealousy of each other. This, healthy in itself, should be obviated as much as possible in emigration matters, as it confuses the minds of those whose interest rrvu 8 New Zealand to draw to her shores. 1 here is also a great want of reliable informatlonP*readable form) on the Colony, which should be published in a pamphlet form, and distributed broadcast over the country districts in Britain, entirely free. As a rule, statistical information, although importance to the educated reader, is not the best for promoting emigration amongst the classes required here. People want to know what they can get out of the soil, or what return in kind they can get for their labor. This, placed before them in the simplest form will go much further than tables of exports and importe. All industries at present started or that could be started to advantage, from the presence of the raw material, should be made a strong point of.

I am of opinion that the Colony should have one or two itinerant lecturers in its emP, 5* They should be colonists well versed in all Colonial matters ; they should visit as far as time would permit, the various country agents, reporting to the Agent-General whether these sub-agents were persons such as were fitted for their positions. They might also in many cases inspect intending emigrants, where a arge number were proposing from one district.

My relations with the General Government officials were of the most cordial character I think it right to state that the AgentGeneral on all occasions gave me every assistance in his power, and that his whole aim seemed to be to render the emigration from Europe to New Zealand a practical success. Led as I was to believe from report that my action in trying to get emigrants for Canterbury would probably be thwarted, and that any works, however zealously carried out, would to a large extent be rendered of httle avail, I was agreeably surprised at the kindness of the Agent-General and his staff. I think that justice to a gentleman who has publicly been much maligned warrants me in expressing my indi ridual appreciation, based as it is on observation extending over a period of twelve months. Had any tendency been shown to treat me in any way opposed to the work I had in hand, I would have as freely expressed my opinion on that, as I at present have in speaking of the kind treatment re* ceiyed. I have to state, in conclusion, that I visited several emigrant vessels for Adelaide and Queensland, and am of opinion that the class of emigrants selected for New Zealand will bear favorable comparison with those selected for any other Colony. All the emigrants for the Colonies were, as a rule, of a far higher class than those who go to the United States.