WANT OF IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 5

WANT OF IMMIGRANTS.

(From the Lyttelton Times.)

The question of immigration has been exercising the people of New Plymouth somewhat sorely within the past few weeks. At first they were told by some one in authority that they must attract the labor they require from other parts of the colony. Then they were informed by the Immigration Minister that there were no people to spare from other places. Mr. Stout learns, with apparent astonishment, that “ all are clamoring for more immigrants.” But he sees a hitherto neglected corner in the remote Martin’s Bay, where, apparently, men and women flourish in large numbers. He is going to make a descent on this populated spot, seize a few families—after the fashion of the African slave-dealers perhaps—and send them to New Plymouth. But ho has some lingering doubts of the soundness of the scheme, so he announces yet other resources. The first of these is to try and cabbage some of the immigrants, as they arrive, from those parts of the colony where “all are clamoring for more.” The second is to sond word to Sir Julius Vogel that Taranaki is in distress for want of people. Until this last resource is put into operation, it may safely be predicted that Taranaki will continue to weep for those who are not. So it appears that, having discovered that no amount of shuffling will increase the number of cards in his pack, the Minister is going to send out for another pack. No one can say from what transpired last session that this pack is to bo large enough for the country’s wants, or the thing which the country would like to see ordered, bnt the fact that the Government is aware that all parts of the colony are clamoring for more people, and that the Government is in consequence exercised, is a hopeful sign.