Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68

Extract from Financial Statement

page 2

Extract from Financial Statement

"The time also apparently is favourable to the establishment of pensioner settlements. Much interest is being taken in this subject by leading men in the United Kingdom, and a good deal of thought and attention has been given to the details of a scheme by a gentleman in Auckland, who has devoted a large amount of time and energy to the matter. The Government are of opinion that every effort should be made to induce a considerable immigration of this class of persons to the colony. As an essential means towards accomplishing the above important objects—and, indeed, the settlement of the country generally—the Government propose to amend and simplify the land laws, and as far as possible, make them uniform throughout the colony; to allow selectors full freedom of choice as to tenure, and above all, and as the dominant idea, to enable the bonā fide settler, to get possession of, and a title to, his land with the least possible delay and expense. It is, perhaps, desirable here to declare that the Government fully recognise the wisdom of the principle which has been acted on since 1879-80, namely, that the proceeds of the disposal of our lands should be treated, not as ordinary revenue, but as a special fund for opening up the country and promoting settlement."

page 3

Before attempting to propose a scheme for Colonization by Army Pensioners, we would point out that, if it could be arranged, the Pensioner and the Colony would both benefit by it. The Pensioner: first, because, instead of finding himself a surplus hand in a labour market already overcrowded, he would have an opportunity of utilising and improving his resources; health and steadiness, perseverance and work, alone being required to ensure success: and secondly, because, whereas in England he would find it most difficult to provide for and start his children in life, in the Colonies they would be of great assistance to him, and able eventually to start themselves.

The Colony: because Pensioners—men of from 38 to 46 years of age, medically examined and passed constitutionally fit, would be desirable men for it to assist, inasmuch as every 100 Pensioners would represent, at £120 a head, £12,000 capital, and a further annual payment from the Home Government, which, if capitalized, would represent about £16,000. Now, capital and eligible men are what all Colonies require to develop their resources and increase their revenue.