SIR G. GREY AND IMMIGRATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1776, 29 October 1879, Page 3

SIR G. GREY AND IMMIGRATION.

(From the Pros, Oitobtr 29.)

We have befere us a Parliamentary paper entitled " Emigration to New Zealand," being further correspondence with the Agent-General, which deserves wider publicity than it is likely to obtain in its present form. We have already furnished our readers with a copy of a communication included in the document under notice—the now famous telegram of Sir George Grey addressed to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach on the subject of the distress in the Mother Country. It is not necessary again to give it in full. It respectfully informed the Imperial Government that six thousand able-bodied emigrants could at once find permanent and profitable employment in New Zealand, "in " addition to largo numbers whoso passages " are being paid by the colony." On the same day—the 15th of February last —Sir George Grey telegraphed to the Agent-General as follows: —" Imperial " Government informed, should they " desire, send unemployed to Now Zea- " land, we can absorb six thousand able- " bodied adults; that you will indicate " classes labor in demand, and give " services in matter. Agricultural " laborers,*~miners, tradesmen, domestic " servants much needed. Will telegraph " distribution when numbers known.— " Gket." On the 28th of February the Premier again telegraphed to Sir Julius Vogel as follows: " Immigrants Supposing Colonial " Office decline recent offer —in- " crease by 2000 the number ordered for " the year. . . . —Grey." On the 4th of April the Agent-General telegraphed : —" Colonial office decline to " assist immigrants, but refers yonr " telegram to Board of Guardians.— " Yogel."

The course taken by the late Premier evidently took the Agent-General by surprise. He was in no way enamoured of this particular scheme of Sir G. Grey for the amelioration of the whole human race, and plainly stated so in words. Writing en the 7th of April to the Minister for Immigration, he said, " Tou " will perceive by this correspondence [The Agent-General to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and reply] " that " the Imperial Government are not dis- " posed to give any assistance towards " the passages of emigrants to any of " the colonies; and that as regards the " cablegram they had received from New " Zealand, they had communicated to the " Local Government Board (who, in their " turn, communicated to the Board of " Guardians) the fact that New Zealand " was prepared to absorb six thousand " able bodied men. The result of this " action on the part of the Imperial " Government is evidenced by the news- " paper extracts which I herewith trans- " mit, and by the fact that a number of " applications for passages to New Zea- " land are coming in from unemployed " persons, recommended to make such " application by the Boards of Guardians, "to whom they applied for relief. I need " scarcely remark that these people are " not, with possibly a very few " the description which I understand the " New Zealand Government wish to have " sent out, even though a part of their '' passages may be paid out of the poor- " rates of this country. I shall be able "to send out the number which the " Government may instruct me to des- " patch without in the least requiring " any assistance from the Boards of " Guardians to obtain them." The newspaper extracts forwarded by the Agent-General are interesting and instructive. They show that in Manchester and Liverpol, at any rate, the wish of the New Zealand Government to obtain six thousand men was widely known. The Liverpool Mercury and the Manchester Evening News both announce that at a meeting of the Manchester Board of Guardians it was stated that the Colonial office had received a despatch from the Government of New Zealand to the effect that six thousand men were required in the colony, and their passages out would be paid by the Colonial Government. The chairman thought that the information should be widely circulated, and " the clerk was in- " structed accordingly." There then for the time being the matter rested. But on the Bth of April Sir George is again at work. He telegraphed ordering the cancelling of his message of February 28th, which had instructed Sir Julius Vogel to increase the number ordered for the year by 2000. Instead, he ordered him to " ship one thousand immigrants; arrive " winter months." What could have induced the Government, and especially the Premier, to take the extraordinary step of ordering one thousand immigrants to arrive in winter, it is impossible to imagine. By that time it was quite evident that the labor market was overcrowded, and that there would be considerable distress among the industrial classes during the approaching winter. In ordinary circumstances it is always a mistake to bring men into the colony at a time of year when little is doing, and when there is no chance of getting them absorbed by the country districts. To have ordered one thousand to reach our shores during last winter, was to exhibit a disregard of the welfare, not only of the working men themselves, but of the interests of the colony generally. Had the late Government shown any prudence in their management of immigration, much of the distress which undoubtedly prevailed during the last few months would have been avoided, and unemployed meetings in all our principal cities would have been less frequent than they were, and, if held at all, not so largely attended. It is undoubtedly true that at a later date free immigration was practically stopped by the late Government. But then the general elections were at hand, and it was necessary that the vote of the working man should be secured.