27 APRIL 1850, Page 11

EMIGRATION.

Hampstead, 2r/ efpri/ 1850.

Sin—Every one who has thought at all err the subject must admit the im- portance of removing labour of every kind to the field where it is most in demand ; bat the difficulty has always been how to accomplish this so that the cost shall in all cases be less than die gain, and so that the cost shall fall on the parties chiefly benefited.

Hitherto the expense of emigration has been chiefly borne either imme- diately by the emigrant's themselves, or by the colony receiving them, or by the country sending them; the first being the mode by which the greatest mass of emigration has been eflbcted, and being ale); in my opinion, the safest of the three, because no one can have so great a knowledge of the habits, acquirements, and physical and mental powers of an intended end- grant, and consequently of the real value of his labour, as the emigrant him- self. Moreover, he is the party most to be benefited by the change, (if he be really well qualified for an emigrant,) and it is fitting therefore that he should bear the chief part of the expense. Again, under the operation of this plan of emigration, the colony to which the emigrant carries his labour, and which receives the next largest portion of the gun, will in the high wages which it will give hint, (wages made higher by the colony not being called upon to apply any of its labour-fund in the direct cost of emigration, contribute its fair share to the expense incurred. With regard to the third party concerned--Hie country. which the emie grant leaves—its share of the benefit is so small, supposing the emigrant who quits its shores to be intelligent, industrime and well acquainted with some productive employment, that it lime, I Hrink, be left out of considera- tion.

It is true, indeed, that if the idle, the ignorant, or the feeble in mind or body, be selected for emigration then the mother-country may be willing to pay for the riddance (although I do not think the emigrationof such per- sons an economical mode of disposing of them) ;, but the Colonies cannot be expec'ed to contribute to the expense of removing our refuse population, nor can the worthless pay for themselves. Again if our main object be that of building up free and thriving communities, whom we may expect in become future customers ibr our goods and future allies-in the great cause of liberty and civilization, then the exportation of our worthless population to our Colonies must surely tend to defeat the very purpose for which the Colonies are founded. The best mode, I am convinced, of disposing of the impotent and the idle, is to keep them at home under observation and restraint; treat- ing them kindly, birterequiring them to do what they can towards maintain- ing themselves, and (inhering them gradually to die out. Supposing the view I have taken- to be correct, it becomes important to con- sider whether a person desirous-of emigrating may not be, enabled to do ao, if he appear to have the requisite qualifications for success, even though he may not have saved a sufficient sum of money to defray the whole or even the greater portion of the cost. The meansof effecting this may, I think, be found, anclehat on the safest of all principles, viz. the ordinary self-supporting oommercial principle. I would suggest that a company be formed in this ceuntry, for the purpose of paying part of the coat of emigration of such persons as are deemed eligible emigrants but who at the time are unable to defray the whole expense themselves ; that a rite of interest be charged to the emigrant fbr money so advanced-sufficient fully to remunerate the company; and that measures be taken by moans of a proper agency in the colonies and in fbreign states in need of labourers, to receive this interest and the gradual repayment of the

; also that steps be taken by the company as a preliminary, whore requisite, for obtaining such an alteration of the law in the places selected for immigration as may give a ready and unexpeneive means, like that now afforded by the County Courts in England and by the Small Debt Courts in Seotland, for enforcing legal claims of small amount.

It is objected to any such plan as that proposed, that there would be great danger of not obtaining repayment of the money. advanced : but with proper precautions, I am satisfied that the less arising from this source of risk would be small, and might readily be covered by the rate 'of charge. The small- ness of the loss incurred by the energetic and benevolent The Chisholm in advancing the necessary funds for conducting emigrants landed. in Australia from the coast to the interior, and the few losses that are sustained oven in Ireland by well-conducted loan societies, show that, with proper precautions and under good arrangements, money may be safely advanced to members of the working classes.

One great advantage that would arise from the proposed plan would be, the strong motive that it would create fbr careful inquiry into the moral character and general qualifications of every person applying for aid to emi- grate, and the care that it would induce to mend out those kinds of persons, whether male or female,. who are most wanted ; for all these matters would be involved in the question of risk regarding the money advanced.

It would be the duty of the directors of such a company to obtain early and accurate information on the state of the labour market of every place generally in want of labourers, showing the current) lute of wages for per- sons of different occupations, and to•regulate their proceedings accordingly ; so as always to direct the title of emigration in the beat channel.

Such a company, too, would have a strong interest in taking effective measures for providing for the health, comfort, proper treatment, and safety of the emigrants in their passage, and for affording them temporary assist- ance on their arrival at their place of destination.

The importance of selecting the best persons for emigration will be the more apparent, when it is considered that the cost of emigration to a given place is a fixed sum, while the value of the labour of the emigrant varies greatly, according to his ability and moral qualities - so that, measured in labour, the only just- criterion, the expense of emigration is far Ices if the emigrant be well than if ho be ill qualified. The carriage of gold is of emall accountebut that of dross and cinders is of serious moment. Where an in- telligent and industrious emigrant would be enabled to repay the cost of his passage in twelve menthe a stupid and idle one might not he able to do so in as many years ; nay, he might never be able to pay anything.