Tuapeka Times. AND QOLDFIELD3 REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 February 1873, Page 4

Tuapeka Times. AND QOLDFIELD3 REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

THE progressive policy under which New Zealand is pledged to incur enormous expenditure, admittedly depends for its success almost entirely upon the population of the colony being very largely augmented. To secure this sine qua non, the General Government have been making strenuous exertions to direct and encourage the flow, of a constant stream of immigration from Europe, to the shores of the colony. As.,yet, consequent upon unfavorable circumstances, or perhaps the incompetency of the Agent- General in London, or of his subordinates their efforts have not prospered. But there is no doubt that as the Emigration Agency department in Europe is increased in efficiency and properly organised, large numbers of men and women of suitable classes will be induced to try their fortunes in New Zealand. In view of there being at no distant date a large influx of population, it behoves us to consider bow the new arrivals should be distributed, so that the colony and themselves may be benefitted to the greatest extent possible. Under present arrangements, the quota of assisted immigrants assigned to each province is landed at its capital town, and retained there until its services areenagaged. The whole profit accruing from immigration is thus almost exclusively confined to the capital towns and localities in their immediate vicinity. The purely country districts receive little or no advantage from the importation of labor — in fact are rather detrimentally affected thereby. Inquiry will show these statements to be strictly correct. It is obviously unfair that one part of the colony should receive the entire benefit of expenditure, the funds t« meet which are contributed by the whole colony. The consideration of means to prevent a continuance of this unfairness and to ensure that all shall equally participate in whatever advantages the coming stream of immigration is to confer becomes, therefore, a duty. We are not aware that the experiment of inland stations for the reception and distribution of immigrants, has been tried in any colony. But if it has not been tried, that is no reason why the Government *£ New Zealaud should not attempt it. The value of an idea in many instances, cannot be well estimated until some practical test is made of it. The peculiar circumstances of New Zealand colonization have frequently rendered departure from the recognised mode of conducting affairs necessary. In immigration arrangements we think that the rule of exceptions in vogue in the colony should be introduced. Under the present system, as we have previously stated, the benefits of immigration are confined exclusively to a few localities, while the greater portion of the colony is debarred from any advantage. "Were batches of immigrants, as soon as they arrived, taken to various inland centres, this anomaly would not exist. This course would entail no extra cost to the Government, for the people who are to be benefited would only be too glad to recoup any expenditure that might be necessary. Such an arrangement would also have the merit of increasing the population of the interior, which ia not at present being done. It would also have the effect of preventing the immigrants from hanging about the capital towns unemployed — being demoralised themselves, demoralising others, and increasing the already too numerous members of the idle and dangerous classes. Increasing the population of the interior is tantamount to developing the resources of the country, which is sadly in need of being done. Should the suggestion we have made meet with favor from the Government, we recommend Lawrence as the locale of the first experiment. This town presents many advantages for that purpose. It is the centre of a large district, and many lesser centres of population are within easy reach of it. The three principal labor-employing industries are largely prosecuted in its immediate vicinity, and also in the other places we have indicated. In addition to the scarcity of male labor in these places great difficulty is experienced in procuring the services of suitable domestics, and there are available situations for a large number of female servants. If an immigration depot were established at Lawrence, its tenants would not be permitted to remain long in idleness The demand is so great for servants of both sexes, and the complaints of the difficulty of obtaining suitable employes so general, that we feel little hesitation in stating that immigrants would be hired, more readily and rapidly from Lawrence than from Dunedin. The " Wellington Independent" says that " the steady increase of tne gold yield of Otago is attributable to the good means of communication, the open country, and the liberal opportunities offered to the miner to become

settlers, agriculture and mining" being dovitailed into each other, and the population being contented and permanent/ If the above statements' be not intended as satirical, tbe writer of the article displays a lamentable amount of ignorance of the subject he treats. The steady increase of gold isdue to none of the causes specificd — itis due to the energy of the miners in triumphing over the most disheartening obstacles— obstacles planted in the way by senatorial stupidity*. Good means of communication forsooth. There is scarcely a decent track on the whole of the goldfields ; and in winter time nearly all the various field are entirely cut off from communication with each other and the outer world. The assertion that •' liberal opportunities are afforded for miners to become settlers " would only create a kiugh were it not so painfully opposed, to truth. The whole policy of provincial and colonial legislation appears to prevent miners from acquiring homesteads and becoming permanent settlers on the land. The goldfields are hemmed in on every side by runs, the lands comprising which are tabooed to the enterprise of the agriculturist ; and the venturesome prospector dare not go beyond the line circling the goldfields to prosecute his avocation without running the risk of being j imprisoned as a felon. We assert, without fear of contradiction, that there is scarcely an acre of land available for settlement in the whole Otago goldtields, and, as for commonage/except in one district, it exists only in the fertile imagination of uninformed legislators. So much for the " liberal opportunities afforded for miners to become settlers." " Agricultural and mining are dovetailed into each other." Was ever such an outrageous mis-statement. Solely through defective legislation the two interests, which ought to go hand in hand, are placed in antagonistic positions. The farmers and miners both ardently wish the vexed question which causes their disagreement to be settled on an equitable basis ; but our sapient legislators say " No ; we'll keep the settlement of the question in abeyance, so that the ill-feel-ing existing through our incompetency, or worse, may continue." That the " population is contented and permanent " |is true, so far as the latter? part of the assertion is concerned. Regarding the contentment, let anyone read the goldfields newspapers, and he will see how much value can be placed on the "Wellington Independent's" opinion. Tbe population is permanent, but every legislative effort for years past seems to be directed to destroying its permanency. Discontent is rife on the goldfields. The lawa seems to prejudicially affect all alike — the cockatoo, the '* hatter," and the mining capitalist. Dissatisfaction with, the manner they have been treated, and continue to be treated by the authorities in every possible way, is a miid word to characterise the state of feeling among the mining community. The discontent and disatisfaction can be allayed by just laws and equitable dealings ; but for some reasons best known to themselves, these simple remedies are persistently ignored, and the chronic disease the interior of the colony is suffering from, is treated with exploded quack nostrums, or fanciful experiments are tried to test the strength of its constitution.