The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 1062, 25 November 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1868.

A very important measure , materially affecting the future prospects of the Colony, was introduced at a late period of ifoe session of the Assembly, and has since become law. It is entitled "an Act to enable Superintendents and Provincial Councils to make permanent provision for Immigration, and for other purposes." "We have so frequently advocated the necessity for resuming immigration that we feel the greatest pleasure in giving the fullest publicity to the Act in question. Clause 2 begins by stating that it shall be lawful for the Provincial Council of any Province by any Bill passed by it in that behalf to provide that out of the Land Eevenue of such Province subject to appropriation by such Council there may be issued and applied in each year during such period of years not exceeding four as shall be fixed in such Bill such sum or sums of money or such proportion not exceeding twentyfive per cent, of such Land JReveuue as it may by such Bill prescribe for the purpose of selecting and conveying immigrants to such Province and generally for promoting immigration into such Province from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or elsewhere with the exception of the Australian Colonies, provided the Superintendent of such Province shall first have recommended to such Council to make provision for such service, and whenever any such Bill appropriating Land Eevenue to such purpose during a period of years shall be passed and assented to if the sum or the propoition authorised to be issued and applied in any year of such period shall not be issued or applied in that year such sum or a sum equal to such proportion may be issued and applied in any year thereafter during such period anything in an Act of the General Assembly passed or intended to be passed in this present Session and called " The Provincial Audit Act Amendment Act 1868 " to the contrary notwithstanding. Clause 3 enacts that the Superintendent of any Province or any agent duly appointed by him may from time to time enter into contracts with any person that he may think fit for the selection and for conveyance of immigrants into such Province or for either of such purposes and the Superintendent may from time to time make regulations for the conduct of and for promoting and regulating Immigration to such Province, and for the nomination of immigrants by persons resident therein and for the distribution of any funds which may be available for the purposes of Immigration and for the introduction into such Province from places within or without the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with the exception of the Australian Colonies upon such terms and conditions as he may think fit •of persons skilled in any description of industry which the Superintendent may deem it advisable to encourage in such Province and of the families of such

persons j provided that all powers and authorities by this section conferred on the Superintendent of any Province shall only be exercisable with the advice and , consent of the Executive Council of such Province if there be &n Executive Council in and for such Province ; whilst clause 4 provides that if any person by anjr false statement made in New Zealand obtain either for himself or any j other person a passage granted in ac- 1 cordance with any regulations authorised j as aforesaid he shall on conviction before, any two Justices be liable for each such offence to pay the whole cost of any such passage and alao to pay a penalty of not more than fifty or less than five pounds and in default of payment of such passage money and penalty or either of them he may be imprisoned, with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding six months. — Thus it will be perceived that this province, "which fortunately possesses a land fund, can at once devote a portion of it to immigration purposes, without having to negotiate with the Colonial Executive. It is to be hoped that this subject will be well ventilated during the forthcoming session of the Provincial Council, and such action taken thereon as will ensure a constant stream of immigrants.