The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1904. IMMIGRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 6, 8 January 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1904. IMMIGRATION.

From li 1110 to time we have been told by the 1 Vernier that what Dm; colony wants is mort population, and there can ho no disputing the fact. Last year the increase of our population by this moans was a paltry eight thousand, including foreigners. Canada, on the otherf hand, gained (>2,000 from England a!oue. Why the difference ? There are many reasons. The Hrst is the consideration of distance, but that is not such a serious mod'tjer as might appear at first sight. The real Vvmsmt is tliajt Cajnada la>vs herself out to encourage these people to settle in the country. Her resources are advertised far and wide, the quality oJ her land and its producing capacities are made known among the people whom she hopes to securo us colonists, and Information is given with regard to roaJiin,® and railway facilities. Not only is this imparted by mcfens of Attractive printed matter, but also by | means of agents whose business it is to seek out that class of people who . arc ready to forsake the Old Lund and aeek wider fields and fresh pasUnt'H (which "t»o itxpcnd tlu-iV lr.vlvour and energy. This is what Canada has done. She has, by judicious advertising, added 62,000 good Bri£

ons to her population. Slit* has settled them on her t farm lands, under \<ery l*a\ ournbit; conditions and 'givwn them railway facilities in order that their produce may reach the world's markets. New Zealand, however, takes little pains to advertise her undoubted u;l----vantagWv We want population ; wo can do with a couple of million immigrants, of the right class ; we have laivd for them, capail/>o (vf Jxmig turned into varied uses. These islands of ours carry Ml present o'nly about eight hundred thousand . in- ! habitants, and yet no steps are taken to encourage immigrants. An | American visitor, one who has studied conditions of life in America, and has also evimvd a deep interest in New Zealand alYavts lor many years past, was fact-J with this want of population almost immediately on landing Ikm c. With our legislation of a Socialistic nature, this colony is very favourably looked upon in America, and our informant assures us that were steps taken to advertise our resources in the United States, we would get not only tourists, hut famili-e? to Mettle in and di.»\vlop the country ; men of the right stamp. young, energetic workers, with brain power and the desire to uw it. People, in s short, who would make most desirable colonists. A7l instance of how Americans do tilings was quoted by o.ur ifv/vd-, who His nk>.v pass led on southwards, but whose name we are not at liberty to pubiish. The people of California became possessed of an idea that they wanted population, and set themselves to work to attract people from other States. First of all, the Chambers of Commerce and similar bodies \ut<; approached, ami then the big mercantile houses gave the movement their whole-hearted support. The very host of printed matter was sent out, small hooks containing articles written by the best authors, setting forth the glorious climate of California, the productiveness of its soil, and the great wioltli yo be &vitl-t\!'e.i from the land by settlers who were propared to work it. The text was illustrated bry plyytoivaphs, showing splendid scenery, vineyard?, orchards and mineral wealth. The railway companies were a; punched, and thestf, readily recognising the hugeness of the scheme, and the certain advancement of their business. gave facilities to people wishing to insj>eet the country wi'ti. a view to settling there. The result was astounding. In a fewdays every train from the eastern and middle Start.es was crowded with prospective Californian settlers. The hotels and accommodation houses had all they could do to make provision for the multitude of visitors, and as a losult of this somo thousands of people were settled on the lands, and the State has greatly benefited thereby. Now Zealand carono-t do likewise. In the first place our Crown lands are at present almost inaccessible ; during the greater part of the year .some of the inland settlers are cut oil the outfcfrcle worM l/y a sea of mud. We have no decent roads in. the lands now lx\ing opened up and even in places where Crown sections have been taken up for m-any yeaivs tho pioJnoer troubles—no roads, no railways, none of the benefits of civilisation in the shape of education for dhilfd'iyn, markets for produce, or even a regular supply ol stores—aro still the lot of the enterprising selector, for whom the hearts of the Ministry are so often " bleeding." JCro-wn lands settlement must l)o pushed on, and on moro up-to-date lines. Koads and railways must precedo or at least accompany settlement ; then, and only then, can we hopo to turn in this direction a portion of tho thousands of peoplo in England who are tired of the old world conditions, and are willing and eager to commence a new life in a new country.