EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In Continuation of D.—2, 1884.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1886 Session I, D-03

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1886. NEW ZEALAND.

EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. (LETTERS FROM THE AGENT-GENERAL.) [In Continuation of D.—2, 1884.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 28th November, 1885. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Bth October, transmitting the correspondence between your department and Mr. W. Courtenay, and am glad to find he has been re-engaged for another visit to this country, as his lectures were popular and useful when he was here, and are likely to be even more so now that the Government have decided upon granting assistance to small farmers towards their passages. I have, &c. The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 2. The Agent General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 30th November, 1885. It was with very great pleasure that I received your letter of Ist October, with the welcome news of your general concurrence in the views which I had ventured to lay before you last June, in favour of granting assisted passages to small farmers. I have been constantly occupied since getting your letter in considering how best to give effect to your instructions, and I hope soon to write to you more fully. But I cannot let a mail leave without asking your reference to one part of my letter of 15th June, which I ought not to refrain from once more impressing upon the Government, namely, that success in such a policy will require a great deal of organisation and some expense in this country. Permit me to assure you very earnestly that we must not content ourselves with advertising, however widely, the regulations you have sent me. The object to be gained is one of such importance to the Colony that if it is to be attempted at all it ought only to be carried out in a thorough way, with complete and most careful preparation, with a methodical organisation in the agricultural counties of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and above all with sustained and persistent efforts, steadily continued over a reasonable time, among the special classes to which the offer is made. There are sure to be plenty of applicants belonging to other classes to whom we should not think of giving assisted passages; and not only the general method adopted, but really every single case, ought to have the personal attention of the Agent-General. It would be utterly impossible for me to attempt this at all without an appreciable addition to the staff here, already much overworked ; and I have even serious doubts whether it would be wise for the Government to confide the scheme at all to any one whose tenure of office was so precarious as mine, or who was not really going to carry it out himself. The announcement that the views which I had so long advocated had at last commended themselves to yourself and to Parliament was so unexpected, that, except as a mere scheme, I had never thought I should be called upon again to speak of it; but the more I have had to think over it since your letter came, the more sure I have felt of being able to make it a success—and, yet, the more impressed have I been with the responsibility of the work that will have to be done if success is to be achieved. I shall soon address you again, but for the present I shall venture to assume that you really mean the work to be gone about in a thorough way. I will take the first steps in it with all the economy I can, and as only a small expense can be incurred by the time you get this letter, there will be ample time —if I have in any way mistaken your intentions—for a telegram to be sent me for my guidance. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell. 1. D,—3.

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No. 3. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 30th December, 1885. Since 1 wrote to you on the 30th ultimo, I have taken steps for extensively advertising your notice respecting the immigration of small farmers. I have also been in communication with the two shipping companies, with a view to carry out a plan I have been thinking of for reducing the passage money in both the second saloon and intermediate, with special arrangements for small farmers and their families. lam glad to say that the companies have behaved very handsomely in the matter, and I hope to be soon able to report having come to an arrangement with them for a substantial reduction. It happens that during a certain number of months in the year their passenger traffic is much lighter than at other times, and we may bo able to arrange that small farmers, receiving assisted passages, may go out during the slack time. The whole subject is constantly in my thoughts with reference to the organisation which will be indispensable for making your proposals a success. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 4. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 15th January, 1886. In continuation of my letter of 30th December, I transmit to you herewith a copy of two letters I have received from the Shaw, Saville and Albion Company, containing their proposals for reducing the cost of passage of small farmers. You will see that the company will carry second-class passengers at £28 per adult, and intermediate passengers at £21 ; for married couples, or, in the case of families equal to four adults or over, at £19. The intermediate passengers would be berthed in enclosed cabins, receiving the same dietary as steerage passengers. I have to day learnt from the New Zealand Shipping Company that they will take intermediate passengers at £21 per statute adult, but they have not yet decided what to do about second-class passages. I have, <fec, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure No. 1 to No. 4. Managing Dieectoe Shaw, Savill & Albion Shipping Company to the Agent-Geneeal. Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited, 34, Leadenhall Street, Deae Sie, —■ London, E.C., Bth January, 1886. Referring to the conversation which I had with you a short time ago regarding the proposed scheme for assisting second-class passengers to proceed to New Zealand, I have now gone fully into the question with my co-directors, and we are willing to carry this class of passengers for the New Zealand Government at a rate of £28 per adult, it being understood that they are to go as ordinary passengers on board the steamers, and that we are to place at the disposal of the Government a certain number of passages during the months when the vessels are not ordinarily full of paying passengers. With regard to intermediate passengers. We would be prepared to carry these at a rate of £21 per adult, berthing them with our enclosed steerage passengers, and dieting them on the same scale. I trust that the rates quoted will appear reasonable to the Government of New Zealand, and that proposed new scheme of emigration may be attended with every success. I have, &c, J. W. Temple, Managing Director. The Agent-General for New Zealand, 7, Westminster Chambers, S.W.

Enclosure No. 2 to No. 4. Managing Dieectoe Shaw, Savill & Albion Company to the Agext-Geneeal. Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, Limited, 34, Leadenhall street, Deae Sie, — London, E.C., 15th January, 1886. I am in receipt of your favour of yesterday's date, acknowledging receipt of my letter giving quotations of rates of passage money for second class and intermediate passengers by steamer to New Zealand. I find that inadvertently in quoting for intermediate passengers, I only gave you the price for married couples berthed in enclosed cabins and notfor families. When four or more people are berthed together we take them at a lower rate than married couples, and, therefore, in the case of families equal to four adults or over, berthed together, the price would be £19 per adult instead of .£2l. I have to apologise for my carelessness in having overlooked this, and I trust that it will not have caused you any inconvenience. I have, &c, J. W. Temple, Managing Director. The Agent-General for New Zealand, 7 Westminster Chambers, S.W.

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No. 5. The Agent-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee for Immigeation. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 16th January, 1886. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your memorandum of the sth December, No. 129, transmitting copies of correspondence with Mr Arthur Clayden, and directing me to give effect to the arrangement you had made with him, as therein described. I note that the (increased) sum of £300 is to be paid to Mr Clayden, in such manner as may appear best in the interests of the Colony, whether for a stated number of lectures to be delivered by him, or for a fixed period during which his services would bo available in the United Kingdom. When Mr Clayden arrives, and explains the plan he would propose for his lectures, I shall be better able to say what will be best to do, but at present the first of the two alternatives you propose is the one I should choose, as there seem to me many objections to the other. Care will have to be taken about the class of people sent out through Mr Clayden. If you turn to your predecessor's letter of the 14th January, 1880,No. 25—No. 15,D. 1, 1880—you will see that Mr Rolleston called attention to a list sent in by the Immigration Officer at Wellington, of persons who had been induced to come out by Mr. Clayden, but who were by no means of the class he had undertaken to introduce. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 6. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. Sie, — 7, Westminister Chambers, London, S.W., 20th January, 1886. With reference to previous correspondence respecting your arrangements with Mr. W. Courtney, I was much surprised when I found, by the correspondence in your memorandum of the Ist December last, what the state of the case really was. Mr. Courtney had never told me of his letter of the 24th October, informing you that the amount raised among his friends to that date was only £128; but he assured me you had promised him that, notwithstanding any failure in the subscription, he should receive £250 here. I now find that it was decided in Cabinet that the Government contribution was not to exceed £1 for £1, and that if only £128 was raised, then no more was to be paid by me. But Mr. Courtney now tells me he is entirely destitute of means, the £128 subscribed by his friends having been exhausted in his passage and other expenses, and is whole dependence is, in fact, upon the money he may receive from this office. Under these circumstances I think it would be advisable for the Government to reconsider their arrangement with him. Your instructions of the 31st August were, to "pay him from time to time such amounts as he might require, not exceeding £20 16s. 8(1. per month, up to the sum of £250, on condition that he delivered eight lectures a-month in such places in the United Kingdom as he might consider best." Acting upon this, I advanced him £20 on the 22nd December ; and now, upon his reiterated assurances, as to the lectures that he is going to deliver in Scotland and other places, I have advanced him a further sum of £30, but have told him that I shall not let him have any more until I receive fresh instructions from yourself. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 7. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigeation. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 21st January, 1886. I transmit to you herewith a "Times" report (Monday, 18th January, 1886) of a deputation, headed by the Marquis of Lome, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of a scheme which has been proposed for " disseminating authentic information on emigration to the Colonics," through the medium of Post Offices or other Government departments. You will observe that Lord Lome suggested that the Agents-Ceneral should furnish the information to the Government in the first instance. Colonel Stanley said, in effect, that the matter was under consideration, and Lord Dunraven thought the Agents-General should be consulted upon it. .Nothing definite, however, has been settltd, and for my own part I do not think the scheme will get much further. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 8. The Agent-Genee4L to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sie, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 28th January, 1886. I received in due course your telegram of the 20th inst., stating that the general tenor of my letter of the 30th November last had been approved, and that I was to go on making arrangements for giving effect to your proposals in connection with assisted passages to small farmers. There were several points upon which I wished to address you by this mail, but my time has been so much taken up by the work connected with the approaching conversion operations, that I am obliged

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to postpone my letter for a short time. Since writing to you on the 15th inst., No. 50, I have been in communication with the shipping companies as to passages by sailing ships, in case these should be preferred by farmers ; but, at present, I think that we shall have to confine passages to the steamers, as the companies do not in ordinary cases bring their sailing ships under the Passengers Act. I have, Ac., The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F D. Bell.

No. 9. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir,- — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 11th February, 1886 I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Secretary of State relating to the proposed establishment of an " Emigrants' Information Office," under the general direction of the Colonial Office, together with my reply. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure No. 1 to No. 9. Mr. Herbert to the Agent-General. Sir, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, 2nd February, 1886. With reference to the interview between Colonel Stanley and the deputation from several emigration societies reported in the "Times" of the 18th ult., I am directed to acquaint you that it is proposed to establish in this neighborhood, with the assistance of a moderate subsidy from public funds, and under the general direction of this department, an emigrants' information office for the purpose of collecting, condensing, and disseminating through placards to be exhibited at the Post Offices, and in other ways, the best and most recent information relative to the demand for labour, and the prospects of successful emigration in the Colonies, the assistance offered to emigrants by the Colonial Governments, the means of conveyance, cost of passages, wages of different employments, prices of the principal necessaries of life, etc., and also for the purpose of affording a central place of enquiry to intending emigrants. Before proceeding further in the matter the Secretary of State would be glad to be assured that the undertaking will meet with your co-operation, and that you will be prepared to furnish such an office from time to time with the best and most recent information in your power upon the points referred to, and upon any other points which may arise. A similar letter has been addressed to other representatives of Colonial Governments in London, and I am to add that should you desire any further explanations on this subject they will be readily afforded to you either personally at this office, or in writing. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Bobert G W. Herbert.

Enclosure No. 2 to No. 9. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 10th February, 1886. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 2nd. inst., in which, with reference to the recent interview between Colonel Stanley and deputations from emigration societies, you state that it is proposed to establish an " Emigrants' Information Office," under the general direction of the Colonial Office, for the purpose of collecting and disseminating information as to the demand for labor, and prospects of successful emigration to the Colonies. I beg to state that I shall be at all times ready to furnish the Colonial Office with the latest information upon those points, or any others which may arise. I am sending your letter for the consideration of my Government. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. F. D. Bell.

No. 10. The Agent-General to the Hon. Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 11th March, 1886. I duly received you telegram of the sth instant, desiring me to be careful to keep the expenses incurred in connection with the emigration of small farmers within reasonable limits, as no vote had yet been taken for them. I have been trying in vain, ever since my letter to you of the 28th January, to write to you more fully on a number of points I have had in my mind on this subject; but the pressure of work has been so great lately, that I have really not been able to do so yet. In the meantime, however, I have taken great care not to incur much expense, but rather to make preliminary preparations until I could see my way better, and I hope to send you a letter by the San Francisco Mail, dealing with the chief points which I think the Government should have before them prior to proposing a vote for the consideration of the House. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

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No. 11. The Agent-General to the Hon. Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, lltli March, 1886. I transmit to you herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Colonial Office, covering a communication from the Board of Trade relating to the collection and publication of labour statistics. I shall furnish the Board of Trade with all the particulars I can; but if you should contemplate establishing any special bureau of the kind mentioned in Mr. Giffen's letter, I should be much obliged by you directing information thereon to be sent to me as early as convenient, for the information of the Board. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure in No. 11. Mr. Bramston to the Agent-General. Sir, — Downing Street, 25th February, 1886. I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Board of Trade specifying certain information which it is desired to obtain as regards the collection and publication of labour statistics in various Colonies. Lord Granville will be glad if you will enable him to supply the Board of Trade with this information, so far as regards New Zealand. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. John Bramston.

Sub-Enclosure to No. 11. Board op Trade to Colonial Office. Sir, — Board of Trade (Commercial -Department), London, S.W., 12th February, 1886. The Board of Trade observe that notice has been given by Mr. Bradlaugh of the following motion in the House of Commons, which will come on for debate on the 2nd March next: "To call attention to the method of collection of Labour Statistics in the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada, and to move, that in the opinion of this House, immediate steps should be taken to ensure the full and accurate collection and publication of similar statistics. The Board of Trade are in possession of various reports from the Bureau of Industries of Ontario, and the Department of Agriculture of Manitoba, as well as of Labour Statistics contained in Reports made by immigration agents to the Canadian Department of Agriculture. They also, from time to time, receive publications containing returns as to average rates of wages from the Registrars-General of the several Australasian Colonies, and the Colonial Secretary of the Cape of Good Hope. They desire, however, to be more fully informed on the subject, and would suggest, for the consideration of Earl Granville, that it might be expedient to request the Officers administering the Government in the Colonies referred to to furnish information on the following points : — 1. Whether in the Colonies under their administration Labour Bureaus have been established. 2. If so, what are the precise objects or functions of these institutions. 3. What are the publications issued by them, and what information generally do they give to the public. The Board of Trade would also desire to be furnished, where possible, with copies of the original acts or other documents establishing the Bureau in question, and with copies of the last annual report issued by each of them. Where no such Bureaus exist the Board of Trade would be glad to be informed what arrangements are made by the Government, or by local authorities, for obtaining and publishing statistics of wages, or other information as to the employment of labour. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. R. Giffen.

No. 12. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir,— 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 26th March, 1886. In continuation of my letter of the 11th instant, I now transmit to you a copy of a further letter I have received from the Colonial Office, stating that, during the enquiries, which have been made into the condition of the unemployed here, it was found that there were many labourers, mechanics and artizans, who had, until recently, been in continuous employment, and had not been in receipt of parish relief; and, asking whether your Government would be prepared to receive such emigrants, if satisfactory financial arrangements were made with Her Majesty's Government. The Colonial Office letter covers an extract from one addressed by the Local Government Board to that Department, giving particulars on the points mentioned by Lord Granville. As everything depends upon what is meant by " satisfactory financial arrangements with Her Majesty's Government," I propose to ascertain that meaning before addressing you again. A Bill has been before the United States Congress, providing for the establishment of a department of labour, under the supervision of the Secretary of State, for the purpose of " collecting information upon the subject of labour, its relation to capital, and the working hours, the earnings of men and women, and the best means of promoting their welfare." lam endeavouring to get a copy of this Bill for you. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

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Enclosure No. 1 to No. 12. Sir,— Colonial Office, Downing Street, 20th March, 1886. I am directed by Earl Granville to acquaint you that it has been ascertained, during the enquiries that have been made into the condition and antecedents of the unemployed in London and other parts of the United Kingdom, that, among those now seeking work, there are many labourers, mechanics, and artizans of good character, who have, until recently, been in continuous employment, and have not been in receipt of parish relief. Such persons, with their families appear, to his Lordship, to be of the class from which emigrants to the Colonies have been selected ; and he will be obliged by your informing him whether your Government will be prepared to receive such emigrants, more especially married men with families, as may be approved by you as suitable, if satisfactory financial arrangements are made with Her Majesty's Government, and, in such case, what number of persons it is probable that you would be enabled to send out at an early date and during the current year. 1 am to enclose an extract from a letter from the Local Government Board, in which it is desired that information may be procured under certain specified heads, and Lord Granville will be obliged by your favouring him with the views of your Government as soon as you can do so. I am, <fcc, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Robert G. W. Herbert.

Sub-Enclosure in Enclosure No. 1 to No. 12. Extract from a letter from the Local Government Board to the Colonial Office, Dated 12th March, 1886. The Board as the result of enquiries which they have recently made of Boards of Guardians, and other local authorities, and of some of the trade societies, entertain no doubt that in many districts there is a considerable number of workmen, including mechanics, artizans and unskilled labourers, who are out of employment, and who at great personal sacrifice, are struggling to avoid having recourse to poor law relief. If the depression in trade continues, it appears to the Board that it may become necessary for the Government to make exceptional efforts with a view to relieving the distress, and among the various methods of relief which would suggest themselves, emigration naturally occupies a prominent place. Before attempting to formulate any plan by which the State might stimulate or assist the emigration of deserving members of the working classes, who might be reduced to great straits by the continuance of exceptional depression in trade, it is necessary to know how far the Colonies or any of them would be willing to co-operate with the Government of the Mother Country in such an undertaking. 1. Especially it is desirable to learn, if any, and which of the Colonies are desirous of receiving any considerable number of emigrants, in addition to the ordinary and normal flow of such emigrants. 2. What numbers, or about what numbers of assisted emigrants of the class above referred to any Colony would receive. 3. Whether all descriptions of laborers would be received, skilled as well as unskilled, and if not, what particular classes would be accepted. 4. Whether the Colonial Government would undertake any, and, if so, what responsibility for the reception on arrival and subsequent settlement of the emigrants sent out with the approval of the English Government. 5. What assistance or contribution in money towards the passage expenses, or in any other way, the Colonial Government would expect from the British Government in connection with the emigration on a considerable scale of the class of persons referred to herein. The Board suggest that if any Colony were willing to take considerable numbers of selected emigrants, and to assume the responsibility of starting them in their new life, Her Majesty's Government should consider with the Colonial Government what part each should bear in the preliminary expenses, and, in addition, the Board might prepare a scheme under which families of artizans and laborers who desire to emigrate, and who had never been subjects of poor law relief, might be recommended to the agents of the Colonies, and if approved by them, assisted to emigrate. Such a plan, however, could only be prepared after receipt of the views of the Colonies concerned.

No. 13. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 6th April, 1886. I telegraphed to you on the 27th March, saying that Mr. W. Courtney was really destitute, and asking whether I should continue making advances to him; and I received, in due course, your reply of the 2nd instant, directing me to continue the advances up to £250, including his passage back. Mr. Courtney, however, informs me that his return passage was paid for out of the amount contributed by the New Flymouth settlors. Copy of the telegram is annexed. 1 have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure in No. 13. Telegram to Treasurer New Zealand. Courtney destitute. Instruct whether shall continue paying. F. D. Bell.

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No. 14. The Agent-General to the Hon. Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 7th April, 1886. It being necessary, under the system about to be established in the case of small farmers receiving assisted passages, to arrange temporarily a plan for the deposit of money by such persons in this country, to bo returned to them in the Colony. I propose to issue for the present, in any cases of the kind, a memorandum to each person in the terms of the enclosed form, certifying that A.8., on his arrival at a given port and production of his memorandum, to the Immigration Officer there and signing it in the presence of that officer, will receive instructions as to where he will receive payment personally of the sum which he had deposited here. This being done, a memorandum will then be also sent to the Colonial Treasurer, certifying, in the form of which I also enclose copy, that the person in question is entitled to receive the amount named. I should be much obliged if you would cause instructions to be given accordingly to your Officers at the four principal ports. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosure 1 in No. 14. Memorandum from Agent-General for New Zealand, £ 7 Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., to On your arrival at it will be necessary for you to produce this memorandum to the Immigration Officer there, and in his presence write your usual signature, and he will then direct you where you will receive payment to you personally of the sum which you have deposited with me before your departure.

Enclosure 2 in No. 14. Memorandum from Agent-General for New Zealand, £ 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., to the Hon. Colonial Treasurer. who proceeds to in the s.s and whose signature is appended, is entitled to be paid on demand at the sum of being the amount deposited by him here for repayment to him personally in New Zealand, in compliance with the conditions under which he receives an assisted passage. Agent-General. The signature of

No. 15. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Minister for Immigration. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, 9th April, 1886. I transmit to you herewith the report "The Times," Saturday, 3rd April, 1886) of a debate in the House of Lords on State-aided Colonisation. lam in communication with the Colonial Office on the subject, and hoped to have been able to write you thereon to-day, but the pressure of work obliges me to put off doing so until next mail. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Immigration, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Authority: George Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—] 880.

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