Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1884. PEOPLE FOR THE SAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 168, 13 June 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1884. PEOPLE FOR THE SAND.

The Wellington correspondent of the Christen uvch Press writes as foU lows :-—" Among some letters on emigration from Sin Dillon Bull I notice some interesting and valuable suggestions as to the policy which should be adopted, especially as regards bringing out the class which he says " above any other we want m the colony, namely, some farmers witb moderate capital at their command, to fill the secondclass accomodation on board the new lines of steamers. There are thousands of small farmers who might easily be brought to New Zealand if we would adopt towards them the policy which may be expressed m these words — * The Government will take you to New Zealand as cheaply as you can be taken to Manitoba, 1 and I do not hesitate to say that each fortnightly steamer could be made to take out its complement of valuable settlers.

Literally it may be said that nothing is done m the agricultural counties of England, Scotland, and Ireland to bring the advantages of New Zealand before that class. Yet I am incessantly urged by people to do it, and I am certain it could be done successfully if we did it with steadfastness of purpose. N T or am I less convinced of this that if it pays the colony to bring out the working' people, it would pay at least as well to devote a part of the immigration fund to bring out small farmers. 1 In regard to this class Sir Dillon urges that it is assential that they should be told as clearly as possible what they can do when they get out to the colony. They should not only be able to know that there is, say, good agricultural land to be had on the West Coast of the North Island, and good pastoral farms to be had m Otago, but they should also be able to know for certain what the land law will really enable them to do. Sir Dillon again dwells strongly on the injurious effect of chan o ing the land law, and adds — " What I said to you two years :igo about the Otago pastoral question, I could say now with a great deal more force about the system of perpetual leases. If that system were the law it could I believe be easily made popular with intending settlers. The trouble is that 1 can never say witli any confidence what really is the law." As has been over and over again pointed out m these columns , what is wanted to make New Zealand prosperous is capitalist farmers, thousands of whom m Great Britain have no idea how bountiful Nature has proved herself m this country. But the farmers should be told how they would improve their position by emigration hither, and no money would be better spent than m doing so, According to Sir Dillon Bell it might be possible to bring out say- a couple of thousand small farmers during the next twelve months; Such a step as the Wairarapa Daily. remarks, would absolutely lift the colony out of the drepression m which it is now plunged. It would also give an impetus to trade and agriculture. There is not a single interest m New Zealand which would not get a spurt from such an influx. The beneficial influence would be lasting as well as immediate. And what would this great boon cost us ? Probably forty or fifty thousand pounds which would or could be spent among our colonial Shipping Companies, and which would continue more or less to circulateamongstus. If the Legislature is gifted with common sense it will speedily act on Sir Dillon Bell's suggestion and tell him to carry it out. We would have no fear of the 1 result. Sir Dillon knows what he is about, and is not the man to put his name to a visionary scheme. We feel certain that it will be the fault of the Legislature if we do not obtain the thousands of small farmer, whom we are are told are available^ One obstacle alone stands m the way, and that is our chameleon land laws. But if the powers that be consent to abandon new fangled fads for administrating Waste Lands for a time, and let the English farmers take up sections on fair and equitable terms, there wiil be no difficulty from this point of view. Sir Dillon Bkll gives the colony a golden opportunity, and if jwe do not embrace it we shall deserve the misfortune that shall befall us.