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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 42, 24 November 1871, Page 3

To the Editor of the TIIAMKS GUARDIAN.

Sir, —There seems to be a difficulty in procuring emigrants of a right class for assisted passages to New Zealand, and I confess that I am glad to bear it, think* itig as I do, that in face of the protective policy which the Government, as represented by Mr Vogel, seems determined io carry out, the system of assisted emigration is a most objectionable one—and for these simple reasons. In the first place it will be conceded by all that the only capital God has given the laboring man is his industry and skill in his particular calling, and I hold that he is as much entitled to have his capital protected as the farmer, or the bottle-makers, or any other favored person who possesses interest enough to make his voice heard in tho Assembly. Again, tl e great wish of tho promoters of assisted emigration is not so much to bring into cultivation the waste lands, or io initiate new industries, as it is simply to reduce the price of labor; such an object would be perfectly legitimate if they were prepared to guarantee constant employment, but that is not the case—for instance the Canterbury man wants cheap labor for the shearing and harvest seasons, those times over he can give no oilier employment to the mass, and the. e remains for the laborer no resourco but starvation unless the Government starts public works ; the expense of carrying out the public works fall on the revenue, so that in fact to provide certain favored classes with cheap labor we are not only doubly taxed, but the wages of the working man arc unduly and unfairly tampered with. In tho West Indies when employers of labor feel a want of that article, they meet and agree to ensure certain and fixed employment to a definite number of people. One proposal is then submitted to Government, and they take the necessary steps to supply the demand. Let a system of that kind be done in New Zealand, and the objections to assisted passages will disappear, the present iniquitous plan of not only taxing the necessary articles of consumption, but actually interfering with the laws of supply and demand must inevitably cause a re-acdon, which will sweep away any Ministry holding tho creed professed by the members of Mr. Fox’s government. Up to the present time, politicians of the Fox and Vogel stamp have enjoyed an extraordinary immunity, owing principally to the apathy of the working classes, and by working classes, I must be understood to mean all those who, to use a homely phrase, earn their bread and butter, but the onesided Vogel Brotective Tariff lias fairly aroused them, and threatens to prodiice results which will most assuredly lead (o the introduction of a Government composed of other materials than theorists of the Fox type, or reckless political spendthrifts like Mr. Julius Vogel.—l am, &e., T. W. S.