The Waikato Time AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2524, 13 September 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Time AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 1888.

Ix our last issue we discussed, in its broad issues, the question of State Emigration from the Mother Country, and witn it the settlement of tho Crown lauds of the colony. The subject in its primary aspect is ono of very wide significance, and when so far developed as to be an fait accompli, will boar immense results to the British Empire as a whole. Tho question of Imperial Federation, which has emerged from the ideal stage of existence, will meet in that other great movement we iiavo named, a very important factor towards attaining realisation. The competition of rival nations in the markets of the world in which British commercial enterprise and -industry have hitherto held undisputed sway, is forcing the question into prominence more and more every day as a matter of expediency, or imperative necessity. The Empire will be compelled by uncontrollable influences to consolidate its numerous, widelyscattered parts, and live within itself in peace and security. In bringing this work to pass a leading place must be preserved for the active prosecution of colonisation by the Imperial and various colonial Governments. Throughout the vast area of the possessions of the British Crown, which have been added to l>y recent acquisitions, arc immensr tracts of unoccupied lands suitable for the purposes of settling upon them, the surplus population of the British Isles. It is the destiny of the British people to till up the desolate places to be found in their wide empire. Under an organised and systeniatised scheme of State colonisation immense numbers could be taken from tlio teeming crowds in the Mother Country, planted in various portions of British territory in both lemisphi.Tes, and gradually adapted to the variations of climate and new conditions by which they would be surrounded. When Statp emigration has become established and organised, as there is every reason to expect it will be on a large and comprehensive scale, the incalculable value of the Empire to itself will be discovered and better understood than is generally the case at present. New markets will be created in many directions not now thought of, and the field of commercial and industrial activity, the interchange of raw and manufactured commodities and the expansion of supply and demand will hi.- extended enormously. All this will bo practically unlimited, and within the borders of the Empire itself. Having recognised this broad view of the question, we must seek to apply its movements to our own wants and circumstances. Ono of the most praiseworthy of our national aspirations, speaking now as New Zealauders, is to encourage the legitimate development of our natural resources. To do this we are always seeking for the introduction of capital, that overabundance of accumulated money or wealth with which England is ropleto and anxious to part. Chief amongst our resources may safely be classed tho soil. If we introduced money-capital only to develop that, we incur the danger of large blocks of land falling into the hands of speculators, or large proprietors. But if we determine to build up a future nation according to given economic laws we must develope the land by introducing that otheroverplusof wealth of which Great Britain has too much and is equally anxious to see utilised elsewhere. We must have a large share of Britain's redundant and unused population, which is labour, which also is concrete capital, in f.ict the true source of . wealth-capital ; and we need one as well as the other. Our anxiety hitherto has been to encourage the one and neglect the other. Tho jealousy and cl.imour of the working classes in the colony have led to that, and the colony is suflaring from the consequences by the insufficiency of its population to bear the national burdens that have been heaped upon it.

The whole system of land tenure and occupation requires remodelling on a different basis. If we are not wise, in time the great evils of old and populous countries will become a serious drag on this progress and prosperity of the colony. Already there is an unnatural congestion of population in large cities, n.ii'l the spread of pauperism, with its attendant vv»U»nie, criiuo and cost to the

taxpayers, arc becoming subjects for grave consideration and apprehension- The only natural cheek to this growing danger is liberal inducements for settlement; in the country. At the same time that Wβ enter into co-opera-tion with England on a grand .scheme of national emigration and iminigraton, sunicient thought must bo -riven to the same class of people in the colony—our own surplus population, paradoxical us that expression may sound. Years ago wo strongly urged this question on public notice, but we were then in advance of tho time. The question must be handled in tlio truest liberality of spirit, carefully laying the corner-stone of tho nation our posterity will inherit. There arc examples amongst our mostadvanced .sister-colonies which we could well imitate. We would retain ourpresent population in the colony, the excess of large towns will seek the country, if sections of agricultural and pastoral lands in suitable areas are offered for fie.: occupation. The occupiers could be exempt from taxation or rates for at least two years ; advances in cash, stock, seeds and implements should be made to enable, those without capital to make a fair and profitable start in life, and the cost of fencing and erecting necessary buildings could be advanced oui of thepublicrevenue, repayable on easy terms over a long period of years. The occupiers could be employed in road-making and other public works in tlus settlements or their vicinity. Though the occupation of the land would be under fief to the Crown, the tenure could descend from father to son or sons if desired, so long as the cultivation and preservation of the soil were attended to. We now otter land, as a rule, at a price that is prohibitive to real settlement on a considerable scale, and by the side of the enticements of America and Canada, cannot but fail to encourage people to this colony.