FEATHERSTONE'S IMMIGRATION BUSINESS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1086, 4 July 1873, Page 3

FEATHERSTONE'S IMMIGRATION BUSINESS.

r ' tJp and down the City Eoad, In and out the ' Eagle,' That's the way the money goes, Pop goes the weasel." The Auckland Herald has been favoured with an extract from the letter of an old New Zealand Colonist at present in London, which shows clearly enough how it is that the immigration scheme in the hands of the present Government is a failure: — There is the immigration scheme. Old Dr. Eeatherston, with his aristocratic suites of offices in the West End, lounging (during his office hours) on the best West End spring couch in his Turkish dressing gown and smoking cap, presenting to the uninitiated the appearance of being the Agetit General for Turkey rather than that of the struggling young colony, New Zealand)

whose life blood is being drained for a different purpose. There are many matters wrong in this arrangement. The office (onlyLondon one) is too costly, and should be situate in the East End of London, where all the business is done. The present office is too distant, and therefore, inconvenient. Canada and America have their offices right in the heart of shipping business. At present the intending emigrant has to run to and fro—from agent's office to vessel and outfitters—from one end of London to another. This point would perhaps not matter so much elsewhere, but in England it makes all they difference. The clerks and parasites are too numerous; Agent General smokes his cigar and lounges at la Turk; clerk's talks scandal, and they all wait for the emigrant to knock at the door. This policy does not answer, when competing with other countries presenting free land, free passage, and short passages, together with the shameful opposition of the " royal" aristocratic and capitalist organs, against anybody leaving the country, fearing the present slaves will thereby have to be paid and treated as men. A recognised shipping firm would have done fifty times more good with the money. By present arrangement every emigrant is likely to cost the colony fifty pounds.