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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4307, 9 January 1875, Page 2

In the Hew. York Herald , of November 25th, there is a significant article under the heading “the reflux of emigration.” According to the reporter, who appears to have taken pains to ascertain truth, “ there are more persons returning to, “ than coming from, Europe. The causes are succinctly stated in -the following extract : It is an actual and unprecedented fact in the annals of emigration from Germany to America that during this fall more German people have returned to their native land than have come out to these United States within the same period. A reporter of the Herald inquired of the Consul-General for the German Empire, Mr. Hinlcel, the causes of this phenomenon. Mr. Ilinkel replied that the causes were natural enough. “Rad times, said ho, “ in this country are driving thousands back who had any little money to spare. They can live so much cheaper in Germany, and the passage money over is so much less than usual that it pays to return. A man who has only a few hundred dollars saved, and is out of employment, cannot live long here on such savings, tout in Germany the case is different. Onc-llftn the amount necessary in America to carry a man over the winter will suffice for him in Germany. Then there is more and better employment at home than ever before. Reporter.—ls there any truth in the statement that the German Government has interfered to check the tide of emigration ? Consul-General—None at all. There is hardly a family in Germany but has some relative or acquaintance in this country. An extensive correspondence is, of course, always going on, and the Germans at this side have only unfavorable reports to send back. Then, all those who have returned during the year have taken homo bad accounts, and in that way every little village and town in Germany is posted on the state of affairs. ~ T . , has been said that the Imperial Government, to check emigration, has called out the landstunn or militia. Consul-General —That is not so. Up to a certain ago a law of old-standing permits a native of Germany to «*o wheresoever he pleases; but when he reaches the term of life that his services to the country in a military capacity are demanded he must notify the authorities and give satisfactory reasons for emigrating The law is an old old one, though perhaps it may be a little more strictly enforced now than it used to be. , , , „ , Leaving the Consul-General the reporter called on Mr. Schwabe, of the North German Lloyd’s line of steamers between this port and Bremen. Reporter—ls it true, Mr. Schwabe, that m consequence of the failing off in emigration from Germany your company is compelled to sell half its fleet of vessels ? Mr Schwabe : To a certain extent I believe there is foundation for the statement, though we have not yet been notified of the fact. You see our fleet is composed of some fifty vessels, and this year it happens there lias been a large falling off in freights. The crops in Europe have been singularly abundant, and there Is less required in the breadstuff line from this country. Emigration, too, has fallen off. With all this, however, there is no pressure on us to sell any of our fleet. Four vessels in all may be disposed of. These are old, and more or less of an ancient model. Orders are out for the construction of other steamers, which is good proof that we have no fear of the future. At Castle Garden the reporter found that not alone with the Germans, but also the Irish and English, this decrease in emigration is observable. A greatmany English are returning in the steerage. The times in Old Albion are better than usual. Labor is in demand, and wages are up to the highest standard ever attained. A strong temptation to return is the very low rate of passage, which in some cases has been knocked down to $lO. The Baltic, leaving on Saturday last, and in such a season as this, with as manv as 370 passengers for Liverpool, is a fair sample of a reflux tide of emigration. The Germans who are going back in such large numbers come from ail parts of the Union. Very many hail from the Western States, where the ravages of the grasshoppers have spread misery and destitution among the farming class. The falling off in the Irish emigration may be put down to just such'causes as have been mentioned in regard to German emigration.