IMMIGRATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 20 October 1883, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

(to the editor.)

: Sir.—lt's a long time since I spoke to you on account of the dressing down received from you, but as a colonist of New Zealand and haying its interest at heart I must-congratulate you on your able leader of tho 18th inst,, dealing with the immigration question, and trust you will follow up in detail the principle laid down in that article. Not only'are immigrants imported at a loss but the country has to find useless labor for them in the hard winters for those who remain, while the great majority slip over to Australia at the expense ,of New Zealand, It would be better if the enormous suras paid away,yearly were spent in free grants of land, then labor would follow capital, but the present national system of putting up the Crown Lands for auction will keep good farmers and others interested from coming into . the country. If the .£70,000 to be spent this year was given away in Crown Lands to those who wished to till the soil, soon a number of good cqlonists would flock into New Zealand and swell oiir customs revenue, The- present" system of holding large estates in this countrywill soon lead to a New Zealand Land League. Trusting you will ventilate this .subject further, • • . .lametc., ■ ' ./ ', W.McEeever,