GERMAN IMMIGRATION TO SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1054, 9 November 1868, Page 2

GERMAN IMMIGRATION TO SOUTHLAND.

(continued). If the North Island has land to settle on these terms, let it by all I means participate in the direct advantage ; but do not for any petty dog in the manger feeling retard the development of that portion of the colony which can be immediately advanced. My proposal costs the North nothing, but will ensure it considerable benefit. It has also another advantage, it abrogates the argument that it would be unwise to introduce population unless the colony is in a position to find it employment to tide over the first year or two. The employment offered is the section of land to cultivate, the purchase of which together with payment of passage money is spread over a period of years. Thus an immigrant has his whole capital whatever it may be to expend on the cultivation of his land for a sufficient time to enable him if industrious, and understanding his avocation, to convert it into a freehold. That all immigrants introduced under this scheme should have adequate means to carry it out in its integrity is a matter which can easily be determined by the agent employed in their selection. As will be seen by the correspondence in the blue book already referred to, the selection of immigrants sent by Messrs Q-pdeffroy and Sons to Queensland and Caffraria, (while Sir G-eorge Grey was G-overnor of the latter) gave very great satisfaction. I presume the same class could be obtained for New Zealand. The objection therefore of the querulous, captious, that the introduction of a large number of immigrants chosen indiscriminately would injure instead of benefit the colony, is not applicable to my proposition. To quote from Messrs Gfodeffroy and Sons, '' regulations for the introduction of G-erman Immigrants into New Zealand." "The emigrants shall be sent from Hamburg, and shall be of a respectable character, and chiefly composed of persons who have been engaged in agricultural pursuits, or mechanics who have mostly lived in the country. They must be in good health, and free, from all bodily and mental defects at the time of embarkation. The age of married couples must not in the case of either the husband or wife exceed 58 years on em-. barkation. People of the higher ages, but never to exceed 58," will only be sent if accompaned by many or grown up children. Bounty will not be paid for husbands, who embark without being accompanied by their wives, nor for wives who embark without being accompanied by their husband. "Here every care is taken to protect the colony from the introduction of an useless class, of people. Not content, however, with providing for the interests of the Government, Messrs G-odeffroy and Son insists that the moral and physical condition of the emigrants shall be attended to by the Gfovernment seeking their introduction. In their letter to Sir Greorge Grey, while Governor of New | Zealand of date 23rd April 1863, this firm writes — -"Tour Excellency knows i us sufficiently well to be convinced that i only if we are sure that the emigrants

we induce to choose New Zealand as destination, will feel happy in their home, we can further this emigration. We must therefore in the first instance, be perfectly and morally satisfied that the conditions offered to the emigrants will lead to their happiness ,&c. Here is no agent who for the sake of a commission will bundle out any one. So far from this, Messrs Godeffroy and Son stipulate as an insuperable condition of their undertaking the work, that they must first be con vinced that the human beings they dye to send otit- will be happy and ptop^MT treated:. X tbiiik, therefore, we may with safety leave the matte* df gelecticfi in their hands. The firm is one of the 1 highest standing" in Hamburg, well known to governments of the Cape, Queensland, &c, and has given every satisfaction to its constituents. I have said that our land regulations will have to be altered, and I think Canterbury, Otago, and Southland have now reached an era in their career when they could, with benefit to themselves and the colony, part with the, balance of their waste lands in deferred payments. I would like such an offer to be made, not only to induce people to come, but to men already here to. stop. I think it would confer a great benefit on many a hard working man who cannot scrape enough together to buy and improve his purchase; he may have enough to do the latter were he not swamped at once by the former. In ten years to turn around in, he could manage it, and I think it would be well to give him the option, care being taken that it will not be taken advantage of for speculative purposes. Let the Middle Island see to it, and use her waste lands for a permanent benefit to herself as well as her Northern neighbour, instead of having them frittered away in useless Maori wars. In conclusion, Sir, I must reteriate that while my predilections are in favor of introducing largely a German element, lam not wedded to it ; but I do insist, that if the colony of New Zealand is to avoid repudiation of its liabilities, if the settlers who have been already induced by the various agents of the New Zealand Governments to locate themselves and fight life's battle in this country, are to do so with any hope of success, Immigration on a large and comprehensivescale is an imperative duty which devolves on the General Government, and which it ought without delay to undertake. The resolutions were unanimously carried. . • "■.-'■.■'