FALSE REPRESENTATIONS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 111, 28 January 1880, Page 2

FALSE REPRESENTATIONS.

It ha« been the cry with the whole Colonial Press, during the past two years, that the London immigration department was m decided need of remodelling, but although the Parliament and people evidently endorsed the opinion expressed, no action has bepn taken iv the matter. Although New Zealand lias all the ingredients for building up a grand commonwealth, it is not exempt from those temporary commercial depressions which periodically visit pvery nation, and to overcome which certain steps of retrenchment arp necessary. It is a matter of regret but not the less of fact, that tins colony has been tinder the shadow of such a gloomy visitant for the paßt eighteen months, — trade has m a measure been paralysed, commerce has been chei-ted, employment has been scarce, wagca low ; mid failures m business have been too disagreeably common to be comfortable. Notwithstanding that this iis n t a very cheering state of affairs, the immigration policy has remained unchanged, and each, succeeding Government has fol-

' lowed m flip footsteps of its predecessor. j Tt m true that reoently an order was ■has been forvrardorl to Ihe A^fitti GcMioral to stop assisted immigration, but the hordes of led iirers, and .>-übagents scattered fill over great Britain were neither recalled or dismissed, and consequently -while the former thought jt necessary to do someting for their salary ; the latter, being paid so much a head, not likely to pay attention to anything less than positive instructions! We have an instance of this from a nnmber immigrants who lately arrived m the colony, impelled to the sfep by the roseate picture painted for their fancy by the Rev. Mr. Bekby— a picture which represented a perfect Elysium for the working man. We have sufficient faith m the future of the colony to believe that every one of those strangers recently arrived, who now inyeijrh so bitterly about being fooled and entrapped into leaving Home will lire to bless the day that they were so beguiled, and smile at th^ temporary and trivial difficulties which th^y had to encounter. Still we are not of that class who believe that evil should bo done, so that good might ensue ; but consider that the gla-ingly untruthful represcntatiqns held forth to induce immigration, reprehensible m the highest degree. In order that our readers may judge to what an extent pressure has been bought to influence the minds of intending immigrants, we quote the words of one correspondent to a Wellington journal. Th T e writer states that the Rev. 'Me Brurt, after drawing a picture such as must have lured W nTTTI^ GTOX to London, added : — " In fact you cannot do wrong. You wiH not be able to obtain assisted passengers ; but it will pay-you to sell your sliirt and pawn your watch m order to obtain the money to pay your passage.'' Without stopping to consider the peculiar m inner m which it is suggested the two articles should be parted with--we certainly think the conduct qf the reverend agent could not be excused npon the plea of over zeal; for although his eloquent cqjolery was successful m securing a few doubtful and discontented colonists, the harm done to legitimate immgration far outweighed the benefits. Notwithstanding the bitterness of spirit exhibited by the disappointed ones, we feel convinced that before the letter carrying their pitiable wailings shall have reached the hands for which it is destined at Home, a change will have come over the spirit of their dreams, and if they have not found the actual paradise which had been painted to them. tb,ey have dropped into quarter-- which nvike a comparison between their past expprimpps and future prospects very ran -h ir. favor of the latter. By this "time, however, the evil has. been done ; and it is scarcely to be expected that after having written m a carping, complaini^^ cqudemnatory strain, they would be m a hurry to proclaim, the unreliability of then own statements. We are of opinion, and it is no newly formed one, that the maintenance of paid lectures has been a grevious mistake, and while it may have been the ni»anp of sep-.iring a number of immigrants, there i«. no guarantee that they will prov.' s.«t tiers qf the right kind. " G^od wine needs no bush," and the resources of Now Z % aland, and the grand fv'ld which it affords for the energy and industry of hundreds of thousimls, speaks quite plainly for itself, without being bolstered up by tho. inflated hyperbole of the professorial orator. We imagine if the Government were to place every facility m the hands of colonists for nominating such of their friends at home as were willing to emigrate, preparations would he made for ea.-h new arrival, and no matter what might be the state ot the labor »oarket it would not have the effect of calling for repinings and reproaches upon the Government.