MORE POPULATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2478, 29 May 1888, Page 2

MORE POPULATION.

TO THE KDITOR. Sir,—Mr Parr is a firm believer in land nationalisation and absolute free trade. As an Englishman ami a business man we must expect liim to hold such views. But as a young New Zealander, still living under the espionage of Mother England, though with an establishment of our own to look after and a name and reputation yet to make, in a natural point of view, I say we must be just before we are generous. No matter what my father was, my mother was an Englishwoman, therefore England is my mother's country, and mine by inheritance. Young New Zealand, therefore, should be ruled by English influences, but nevertheless that this is so, still the fact that we have started upon business on our own account, married a wife, nationally speaking, and with our first-born prodigy cutting a tooth in the shape of a national debt, we must expect squalls, to be kept wide awake when we would prefer, or think we ought to go to sleep, and generally to have the establishment in an uproir. But nevertheless, that this is so, i say, more population is wanted, and those who don't liko the row let them clear out again to whence they came. I have small sympathy with those who merely come to' New Zealand to make money or live at their ease, although they are perfectly welcome. But I have every respect and feeling of good will to him or her who comes to New Zealand to make it their home, to look with a kindly face upon the primeval roughness of its natural growth and state, and who, instead of complaining, set to work to establish a colonist's home for themselves and their families, as our fathers and mothers did in the early days, from lS4otouow. What is the inatter? I say distinctly it is that the Public Works policy has failed to people the country, as it was thought it would, but that is no fault of New Zealand's. Even the greatest giuir.bl.T will admit that for yield of grain and class of farmer's produce of all kinds New Zealand is ho fraud. There is something wiotie outside of the country itself. If 200,000 adult workers in New Zealand can, ami I suppose do pay, interest on the present debt, which has been expended in opening up the country with railroads and other requirements, how much easier it would bo to pay if by any measure we could induce six times the'above-named number of workers to come out to New Zealand, and help to build up a British home for their posterity, and in doing so be ready to sacrifice personal comfort and risk health if necessary. What has made England great, but the blood of heroes spent in her defence or in her behalf, whilst coininuree sat grudgingly at home counting out the dollars sparingly to afford them the bare necessaries to the early colonists. England, as well as those who have homes in the colony owes a great deal, and we and they owe England and Englishmen a great deal in return, therefore so long as we. consider ourselves part and parcel of the British nation, England still expects that every man will do his duty ; and it is tbat so very" many of us fail to do our duty in a patriotic spirit, which need not interfere unduly with self-interest and comfort. That stagnation has crept upon ns Mr Parr is right. England wants to net rid of her population ; so will New Zealand when she has 33,000,000. But until we have 3,000,000 anyway, let us cooey ! to them to come ; and let us rociprocatn with old England by making special tariffs for England's goods and commerce, and raise revenue from those nations who take our products, or who are forcing England and New Zealand to arm to defend our hearths and homes. Let us welcome all to our shores, rich and poor ; there is room for them all, so long as they giv-j their parole to England. But especially let us make a strong bid to bring England's freezing people here to eat our mutton, rather than freeze our mutton to send it tc England to ruin the farmer at flome and ourselves in doing so. What other country iu the world but old England would allow us to do so? Protect no industry or ought else against England's make ; raise no tax for protective purposes, but since we are encumbered and must raise revenue, raise it in sufficient quantity by the cheapest and quickest method, and remember charity commences at home. Therefore, reciprocate with our Mother Country, and dual out equal and exact justice to alien nations who care not oue fig for us. Give a freehold home and a guarantee to its inmates to every rural settler in New Zealand, that their home is safe from Church or State up to a certain area. Place in your country districts agricultural avenues for advancement, and make agriculture the ambition of the young man aad his wife rather than some shop in the crowded city. We are importing into New Zealaud millions of pounds wrth of foreign goods which are luxuries to ws for which we are not earning the money to pay, or if we aie, we are sending money wastefully to outsiders. We must enforce economy upon ourselves by wising our revenue from foreign luxuries, or articles which we can do without, if wo are driven to it, but do no tax unimproved land. Make a Crown grant to ' end all disputes except for deliberate fraud, and so again let the country become honourable and prospering, then hundreds will come to New Zealand with money to find a home for their personal comfort, whilst thousands will come with ten or twenty pounds each, and their families on the land of the colony. New Zealand will rind help for their labour and riche& to boast of which they could never attain to in the old countries they leave behind them. William A. Gkaiiam. The Lodge, Hamilton, May 25th, ISBS.