Page:Transportation and colonization.djvu/249

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
AND COLOiNlZATION.
235

amount of that bounty. It is in these circumstances that the home government are doubtless amused with the fallacy of a large annual balance of land-revenue in the treasury chest of New South Wales, over and above the whole expenditure required for supplying the whole existing demand for free labour in that colony. It is the bounden duty of the colonial government to see that there shall be no such balance in the colonial chest, and that every sixpence of the land-revenue be expended forthwith in importing virtuous and industrious free emigrants into the colonial territory. Nay, if money to the amount of several millions sterling could be borrowed at interest on the security of the land-revenue of New South Wales, for carrying out from Great Britain and Ireland, during the next five or six years, as many thousand free emigrants of the industrious classes of society, as could possibly be settled in any capacity in the colonial territory; it would be the wisest measure ever sanctioned by the British government in regard to the Australian colonies, and the most pregnant with blessings of incalculable value to the colony of New South Wales, as well as with important benefits to the empire: for in proportion as virtuous and industrious free emigrants are settled in that colony, will the evil effects that have already resulted