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Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1676, 17 December 1873, Page 2

The present rate of emigration from Great Britain to the United States is about 3000 persons per week, while during the year 1872 the whole of the Australian Colonies received only 15,000 immigrants. The proportion of those emigrating to the Colonies, or at least to New Zealand, ha 3, no doubt, been largely increased during the current year. Nevertheless, and despite all the encouragement which our Governments can offer,, the number is still ridiculously small as compared with the crowds who leave by every vessel for the American States. While New Zealand was still involved in that lethargy which the energetic measures o.f the Fox and Yogel Ministries have in some measure served to dispel, this wa.s, perhaps, matter of small importance ; but now that the colony js fairly committed to a policy of advancement, and that the steady increase of immigration is essential to the preservation of our credit in the world, this large efflux of population •to America is a subject than which few have equal importance for the settlers of New Zealand, and it behoves us to look well if there are no means of directing the stream to our own shores. Often as thequestion of the emigration from the United Kingdom has been discussed at home, it has never yet been recognised as a matter of Imperial concern, except by a few Anglo-Australians, and their efforts are wholly absorbed in the prevalent apathy. Yet there can be no question that the interests of Britain and her Colonies iv this matter are one. An annual transfer of 180,000 subjects to a' foreign allegiance is no insignificant drain upon the strength of any power, whereas the benefit, if the same number went to the Colonies still subject to the Crown, would be to them incalculable, and to the mother-country a consideration by no means unworthy of notice. A large emigration from her shores England is powerless now to stop, even were it considered desirable to control the liberty of the people in this respect ; but we believe that she might do much to retain those who emigrate, as subjects of the Crown, by encouraging and in all ways assisting her Colonies in the satisfaction of their demand for population. Nor do we think that the picture drawn by a late writer, of the consternation which will one day be felt in England when she wakes up to find herself bullied by a power which has drawn most of its vitality from her own veins, by any means exaggerated or improbable.