PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 883, 17 January 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

FRIDAY, lOth JANUARY, 1868. MORNING- SITTING-. .The Speaker tqok • his- seat- at 12,35: Present :— Messrs Blacklock, M'Clure, Monckton, Calder, Howell, Palrymple, Swale, Johnston, Armstrong, Hately, Lumsden, Pearson, J. Koss, Hodgkinson, Loiiguet and Daniels. ..,,.:., THE MINUTES.. . ■ jhe minutes of the last sitting were read and confirmed. ' ■ • CORRESPONDENCE. . .; . - A communication was lajjd on the table, and read from Mr C. R. Marten enclosing copies of correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and himself, with reference, to the contribution of the Meteorological station in Southland, from which it appeared that., the Colonial Secretary suggested an application should be made to*the Provincial Government to place a sum on the estimates in.. aid of working, this establishment. . . . A document was received and read from . the Provincial Auditor, reporting that he had audited the provincial accounts for the quarter, and found them correct.' IMMIGRATION. Mr M'Clttbe moved— "That, .this, .Council is of opinion that the Government is justified in resuming the Assisted Immigration Scheme, and more par : ticularly so, if arrangements can be made, with, any individual who will advance money for this purpose at per adult, as may be agreed on taking land in payment at the rate, of one pound per acre.". He said, he had great satisfaction in-bringing, forward this resolution, and trusted the Council would unanimously assent to it, so as to supply a want raueh.felt.. , It was highly necessary that the, .scheme ofassisted immigration should be resumed, and he thought that the scheme proposed as good a one as could be adopted under present circumstances. . It would induce shippers to lay on vessels direct for this port, which would not only increase its commerce, but would be a good advertisement, at home. The money would not be ,pefinanently expended but would be returned "to the Treasury, and be again available for the same purpose. It might be advanced that there was a considerrble amount still due the Government under the old system, from many of those who had been assisted, and others who had become surety for payments, who had gone away. Since the .Government, • had advertised its intention of resuming immigration, upwards of fifty applications had been made to the Immigration Agent to bring out relations, and all of them adults. He could not look upon the £6000 due from those who had been brought out as a bad debt, as many who had not yet been able to pay, would do so when circumstances permitted. ■ Dr Mojtceton seconded the motion. It appeared to him that Immigration 3hould be encouraged, and the proposed scheme would have, a. double effect, : bringing out immigrants and selling the land at the same time;

Mr LtraiSDEif did not tUi^tkafc.jßuffieient time had been given prjgasal to be properly considered. I A mottottfhad >the y previou3 night been passed recoupjiig immigrants their passage m^ej^iff laffdy and he was afraid that thifif^^ld^Vfe capitali * •• s . a chance of makii^»" a -%6od job out of it. -He would tn'nch'jpre^r that a^onsiderable'sum should be^laceid on the estimates and pay direcHnstqadjjf in so crooked & way. Mr Johnston jsvoufcL .support the moffqnT Emigrants were leaving Great TJritaiu' in thousands for the various colonies. The last^speakex.had.eYidentLy, "mts'a^relienled'the meaning of his _ proposal of the previous nighty Hejbelieved "that byoffertiigfoglye say. sixteen acres per adultliead : , small capitalists wouldbe jnduced to come here. " The' present proposal now under discussion --provided .for. ., obtaining' anoth er class of immigrant^,'; 1 v i z : _those who jcbuld not pay.tKeir.owa'passages, in 1 thVfirst instance, but who. would at a future timer-;: ° Mr Abmstbong would support the motion .without afiirming--that- it was-the, best scheme that could be a'doptedv. ; He wanted to . see a stream of immjgratioli', and would not offeriany hindrance /tqjfche: passing of any 'motion' tojhi£end. Dr Hobgkinson would, support; -the motion, and could not see how liny member could give it any opposition.- 'It, did not clash in any, way, T with that brought forward,]by M-r Johnson. Both schemes were_g£pi,_asu we were- in need; of immigrants; of every class. - Even it capitalists made a profiirTJut of lt-h? would rioVobfeet, as the, province would be benefited. He would \suggest that a sum of money should be, sent to an agent in England, to help, laborers to provide requisites for the voyage, as many desirable immigrants could not .come even if their passage was paid.: ; = ;.U' The Tbea-sJurer said the. Government asked the Council to pass this inqtioniin order to_^ive_tieiXUßfljnefching-to^wor-k~ upon.' AU acknowledged that-the,resump-tion of immigration_l_w_as__desirable r There was a Vim .on the i -estimates [for this purpose, with the amount left blank, , which he hoped would WWeA up witha sum not less than £5000.^ Providing for immigration he considered quite as essential as the providing for the anainte--nance of roads, .The-. money, invested would not be lost but form a fufld to -perpetuate a scheme v which ; he^ hoped would work well. v- *• ' "■•'■ Mr Cai,T)EB would support the motion, although they* might -differ in opinion as to the best waj to.carryltout. It had been-stated.thata.large balance was still due. by immigrants-Avho7^axl^i»"^^uT under the previous system; - He did not consider that any argument"against, the motion. Be ;attribut«ed this chiefly to the want of a -:sunicient' pressure haying been put on by the Government. "The objections, to giving -land in payment for the importation of immigrants was .untenable. It . must f . be. ,. knpwn^^.tliat money could be raised at hom.e for three or four per cent,' while in the provinces ten per cent, was considered a moderate interest. He considered that the resolution passed the .previous evening differed widely from the one now before the House- He-4ookedr-^onr-hinni-gfafion as being of the greatest 'importance— even more important than that- of road making. Still he would rio£ permit the land tobe alienated below its yalue^ He would suggest to the (3-oyernmeint to add the, sum, per h^ad, to be at the,<jurjrent ralie of passengers' to these ports. ■ Mr Boss thought thef -scheme was somewhat complicated. It was, folly to get immigrants unless they would settle here. If th 3 capitalist got the land into his hands, the immigrant mighfecome Tout; get disgusted, — and— go — away,-- -■ He recollected that ten years ago,- a great difficulty was experienced in retaining immigrants brought out under-a similar system to Wellington. . . -„ ... Mr M'CLirBE stated that .he . had no objectipn to . amend" the resolution as suggested by the hon. member for InverMr -Galder: ■ ' . - The permission of the House having . been obtained,, the resolution, as amended, was passed. .;.■ : . ■.-.■• . „.. ..< ;,•'.■■. messages; ■ ■ • ■'■'•'" :;t " His Honor the Superintendent wrote objecting to the placing on the Estimates £32,000 for the formation of the Eastern road, on the ground that it was iriT excess of the amount that could : be expended in time, ami more than present circumstance would sanction." ' His Honor in message, 3 assented to the sum of £200 being placedjcifa. the estimates for the repair of the road in the Eoslyn District, also £500^ for the repair of the road via Flint's Bush in the Waimatuku District, also £400 for the road between Biverton and Orepuki. THE LICENSING ORDINANCE." ' ' The House then went into com raittee on the " Licensing Ordinance "and after an animated debate ■ extending over two hoursVreported progress. -;■■:: "■ -'" / The House adjoined until 7.30.