LETTER BY THE HON. MR. VOGEL. THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE ENGLISH LABOURERS.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 286, 12 March 1874, Page 2

LETTER BY THE HON. MR. VOGEL. THE GOVERNME NT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE ENGLISH LABOURERS.

The following reply of the New Zealand Government to the memorial recently presented on behalf of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, praying that free passages may be granted to suitable emigrants, has been received by Mr J. S. Wright, of Birmingham :—": — " New Zealand Immigration Office, Wellington, October 22, IS73 — Sir,— l have the honor to communicate with you upon the subject of your letter of the 15th May, 1873, to the Colonial Secretary, in which you enclosed a memorial of the Committees of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union. Since the reply sont to you by the Untler-Secretnry for Immigration, the Government of New Zealand hare found it necessary in the intereit of the immigration io urgently required to make moro liberal' the terms under which assistance is granted. A few days since the Agent-General of New Zealand was instructed by cable to give, until further instructed, free passages to suitable emigrants, exercising a rigorous scrutiny as to their fitness. The high charaoter both for ability and for unflinching honesty of purpose which Mr Joseph Arch enjoys, the reputation for v liich it widely current throughout the colony, induces me (o ask you without any delay to inform the association with which be is connected that the free passages sought for in the memorial forwarded by jou are now being granted. Tug association should at once eommunicato with the Agent-General, Dr Featherston, 7, Wcitmimtcr Chambers, Victoria street, Westminster, and arrange with that gentleman for the selection of such a number of emigranti at may be agreed on. If the association would place the Agent-General in the position to ohoose those person! who are suited to become settlors in the colony, it may rely that all reasonable assistance will.be granted tho portions selected. on arrival to enable them, to obtain employment. Every industrious immigrant wiio is blessed with good health may rely on success in the colony. The demand for labour is ample, the rate of, wages high, the cost of living sufficiently reasonable to enable frugal persons to make considerable savings. After a time thssa savisg* should enable the immigrants to cultivate land, which thry mny acquire on very roaionable terms ; and, in fine, the position of a prosperous farmer is open to the immigrant who lands on the shores of New Zealand, no matter how poor he may be, if he is only gifted with temperate habits, frugality, and industry. I may add that the immigrant might find special facilities for the education of his children. Should Mr Arch or some one appointed by him be inolined to visit New Zealand to report to the assoriatton on iU capabilities, the A^ent-General will grant him or his nomine* a free passage out, and his expenses in the colony for a reasonable time, say for six montliH, will be provided. It will give the Government pleasure to have the resources of the colony reported on by an unprejudiced and intelligent representative of the Agricultural Labourers' Union. lam not able to aaiure you that wo shall continue for a lengthened period to give free passages. — J. Vogkl, Minister for Immigration."