IMMIGRATION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 813, 15 August 1870, Page 4

IMMIGRATION.

&8 the Budget contains much on this it may not be out of place tc give a few thoughts on it. Mr Voge] pdems to he very hopeful of carrying out the proposals he has laid before parliament; but as there are two sides to every question, let us look at thai which is opposed to the views of the Jion, Treasurer. Mr Yogel in refer ring to immigration says;--?" We ought in dealing with tbis question to recollect that it is regarded from opposite points by the country parting with, jaud that which is receiving the popu Jation." Jn this we quite agree with Mr Vogel, and as we are to be the Recipients, it behoves us to look well to the kind of people we are about tc import or welcome to our shores, JJow, as the mother country is aboul to part with her population, it is a grave question for us to consider what kind of people she is likely to send. $0 doubt the English authorities will be only too glad to dispose of the refuse of the population, or to use a guilder term their '* surplus population," and quietly place them upon their own resources in one of their most distant colonies, whence there is not the slightest prospect of their ever returning. On arrival, of what do we generally find English emigrants tc consist ? Po they belong to a class which have either capital, or energy and ability ? They most certainly belong to neither of these classes. Most of the persons who emigrate from England are of a class inferior in manners in energy and position, to prdinary mechanics ; numbers of them pome from weaving and spinning es tablishments,—persons who are, as a rule, notorious for their inability for manual labor, and unaccustomed in rnhny cases to use their limbs iu more than mere trifling exercise. And what is the result of such persons coming out to a colony ? They find themselves perfectly useless, totall Unaccustomed to the work required of them, and, when exposed to cold and damp, are in a few months obliged to geek for assistance either from some public or private charitable establishment, Such are not the kind of men we want, and we are afraid the induce jnents held out by the present plan will not be sufficient to tempt those holding good positions, which are Usually permanent in the mother country, to seek the chance of obtaining employment here, The persons we require will not throw up the good positions they hold in the mother country for the purpose of furthering the interests of the colony. They are not so philanthropic. The monster self reigns too prominently in their breasts, and until we can hold out sufficient inducement, we shall never obtain a proper class of immigrants. Take, for instance, an engineer in one of the manufactories of Birmingham, who is receiving fifty shillings to three pounds per week, and has regular employment ; who is also near his friends, and can perhaps attend his evening class, and obtain all the advantages of a Christian community. Now, is it to be supposed that such a man would be-tempted by a salary of Ju2, or even w£3 a week in the colony, to leave his native place, and come some 16,000 miles, to remain in a situation, say three years, and then be left without employment, to go his way, and seek 11 fresh fields and pastures new." We certainly cannot imagine a person so foolish. We need only point to the forty-acre system, and how many have regretted it. What do we find? ijMost of those who could not obtain situations have left and do not hesitate to use most telling arguments to the detriment of the colony. A general immigration scheme will not, we think, answer, as the requirements of the provinces are so unlike. Those of the south are for sheep farming aud for the growth of grain. Those of the north for the production of minerals, the growth and culture of flax, the preparation of timber, and the depasturing of cattle. If the immigrants are to be employed upon public works, what, we would ask, is to become of them when the works are complete ? Are they to be turned off, or to be remunerated with so much money, or so much land ? If not, how otherwise §re they to be dealt with ? These are grave questions for consideration, '.[here is also one other question to we WQu.l4 draw attention, via.,

the employment of native labor. It is the opinion of many that natives might be employed advantageously in the construction of roads, bridges, or other public works. And we have the evidence of one of our leading military men as to the engineering abilities of the Maoris, Why not, then, bring their skill into exercise ? Labor would thus be made cheaper. The Maori would become more civil ised, learn the value of money, and prefer peace to war, Jf the natives are allowed to waste their time in idleness, it gives them opportunities for arranging hostile plans, and carrying them into effect. It is an old saying that a servant will be gradually drawn towards his master, although he may at first dislike him. Let us endeavor then to soften the native mind, and drive out. prejudice and illfeeling. In thus employing the natives, we shall open up the country and advance civilisation. And whilst thus furthering civilisation, we shall be placing the prosperity of the colony on a sure and lasting basis.