Problems of a Great City
White, Arnold
1887
CHAPTER V: Colonization
CHAPTER V: Colonization
The distinction between emigration and colonization is not generally appreciated by the public. Some of the ex-Colonial Secretaries now living have not mastered the distinction. Emigration is a lonely and hazardous contrivance for the betterment of the individual, by taking passage to another country, and there permeating or being permeated by the influences found on the spot. The depopulation of between the years and was effected by emigration. Colonization is the transfer of an organized community from an old to a new country. The swarming of bees offers the nearest approach | |
117 | to an exact analogy of colonization. Men of Elizabeth's time understood the conditions, and dared the dangers, of successful colonization more perfectly than they are understood in the reign of Her present Majesty. Colonization is a complex and costly process, shrouded with physical, administrative, and political difficulties. It is therefore less popular than emigration as understood by philanthropists, where the payment of passage money begins and ends the work to be done. Colonization begins where emigration leaves off. The circumstances under which a scheme of colonization may be conducted to a successful issue in the present era are worth examination. |
In the first place it is well to understand that there are but two spots on the earth's surface available for colonization, subject to the control of the . These territories are and Western . The surrender of all the Crown lands in all the other British Colonies, to the descendants of the first white settlers, necessitates negotiation with the Governments of those white settlers before the | |
118 | necessary land can be acquired otherwise than by purchase. The Governments of the Anglo-Saxon Colonies are elected and maintained in power by wage-earners; and the electorate naturally regard with abhorrence any measures likely to reduce the rate of wages or to lengthen the hours of work. In South Africa, for example, the Government of the Cape Colony has at its disposal eighteen million acres of good and bad land, but the conservatism of the Dutch and Africander element of the population extinguishes any germinal enthusiasm lurking in the minds of the Cape Ministry for wellconsidered schemes of colonization. The first impediment to organized colonization, therefore, is the fact that either the colony must be planted by grace of the Imperial power in one of the two Crown Colonies situated in temperate climates, or the land for settlement must be obtained by purchase from private holders or the Colonial Governments themselves. |
Assuming that the land has been obtained, that it enjoys an adequate rainfall, is well watered, adapted for the cultivation of garden | |
119 | stuff, as well as for the growth of cereals and the maintenance of stock; the pioneer work of surveying and dividing the land into allotments, erecting temporary dwellings, providing stores, furniture, bedding, waggons, carts, cattle, sheep, seed, agricultural implements, and the hundred other necessaries of agricultural existence must be undertaken and completed in advance of the arrival of the main body of settlers on the land. Rations for six months must be laid in and issued, pending the production of food on the spot. |
The selection of settlers, more especially in a pioneer undertaking, is a matter of paramount importance. No one should be included who has previously visited and returned from the Colonies. Settlers should be married, as otherwise the men will become nomadic and possibly vicious in their habits; they should not be more than thirty-five years of age, and not encumbered with more than two children apiece. Practical knowledge of agricultural work, temperate habits, and good character are essential. To ensure against one of the commonest causes of failure the | |
120 | exclusion of drink from a new settlement may be regarded as an indispensable precaution. There may be no desire to impose an ascetic habit of life by insisting on abstinence, but experience shows that the prospects of success in a new colony are greatly increased if the drink is resolutely and altogether excluded. |
Agricultural labourers should form the bulk of the pioneer parties of settlers in a new colony. Two carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, and handy men for every hundred settlers may advantageously be included; but in no case should these artizans be chosen from large towns. The excitement of a great city indisposes the townsman to the monotonous toil of frontier life, while his physique is generally wanting in the toughness necessary to success. It cannot be urged that the selection of an agricultural community is no solution of one of the problems of a great city. It is from the crowds now pouring into the towns from country districts that choice may be made. Farm labourers out of employment are either potential townsmen or potential settlers. Facilities offered to | |
121 | enable them to become settlers and not townsmen, are in effect a direct solution of one factor in the overcrowding problem, since the diversion of the stream of labour from where it is a source of disaster to places where it is a source of wealth, both directly and indirectly, is as beneficial to the great cities as to the colonist himself, or to the colony of which he becomes a part. |
The government and administration of justice in a self-contained colony is a matter requiring careful consideration. Subject to thegeneral laws prevailing in the country in which the settlement is placed, disputes arising between settler and settler are better settled on the spot than by recourse to litigation and the arbitrament of the magistrate. In the Mir of the Russian villages, or the Gansabawa of Indian and Sinhalese rural communities, we have types of a Village Council suitable to a simple, but orderly system of society. The election of three village elders by the settlers themselves for every hundred members of the community, whose decisions shall be binding in all such matters remitted to them as do not conflict | |
122 | with the jurisdiction of the general law, will be found in practice to be an effectual method of maintaining the peace of the community. The Village Council so chosen will also be fitted to deal with all matters of communal interest, such as commonage rights : the sequence in the use of agricultural implements or machinery common to the settlement: education: and other matters relating to the welfare of the commonwealth. The meetings of the Council should take place weekly. For this purpose a meetingplace should be provided, which will also serve as church-house, schoolroom, and general place of assembly. Elections to the Village Council should take place yearly. |
Failures in schemes of colonization are not infrequently the result of ignorance of local conditions, usages, and customs. Administration from London of the details of a new settlement over the sea is a hopeless task, and one which, if attempted, is predestined to failure. Essential, therefore, and a primary condition of success, is the presence on the spot of an old colonist or colonists who will undertake the responsible task of organizing | |
123 | all the details for the selection of land, survey of the allotments, and preparation for the reception of emigrants. It is better to have a Committee of old colonists than to depend on the judgment of an individual, as the wisdom of numbers is apparent in counsel. The real labours of the organization of a successful colony devolve on this Committee, and where their labours are followed by success, the honours which are too often lavished by England on participation in the operations of war, or of State ceremonial, may well be conferred on those who have organized victory from the stubborn elements with which they have to deal. |
The relations of the settlers to the Committee should be laid down with exactness before leaving England. The following agreement is the production of experienced colonists, and is actually employed in one such settlement as that described in this chapter. | |
I. Each family will have from 20 to 50 acres for agricultural purposes and homestead, | |
124 | as well as the use of a certain amount of land for communal grazing. |
II. Each occupant will have absolute possession of his section of land, and will be entitled to graze on the common-land, ten head of cattle and ten sheep, each head of cattle to represent four sheep; thus, should he prefer to keep sheep only, he would have the right to graze fifty. | |
III. Each family will be provided on arrival with temporary house accommodation, consisting of two good-sized huts, and necessary household furniture will be provided. | |
IV. Each section will be accurately surveyed, for the prevention of disputes as to boundaries, etc. | |
V. Sufficient cattle, ploughs, seed, waggons, or Scotch carts, &c., will, at the discretion of the Local Committee, be supplied to enable the emigrants to get a fair start in working the land, but two or more families will have to participate jointly in the use of the same when required by the Committee. | |
VI. Provisions will be served out to each family for the first six months if required. | |
125 | VII. No charge will be made for the first year either for passage-money, rent, interest, rates, or taxes; from which date forward a rental will be charged of £10 per annum, exclusive of rates and taxes, per family, payable half-yearly, to cover interest and wear and tear. Should it be necessary to make any advance in individual cases, the Committee at its discretion will do so, charging interest for such at the rate of five per cent. per annum. |
VIII. The cost of each allotment of land, with grazing rights as hereinbefore mentioned, together with the expenses of locating each emigrant family, is estimated to average about £200 sterling. | |
IX. The holding and stock to become the property of the tenant on payment of the amount of such cost and expenses, and any payments made on account shall bear five per cent. interest. Should any tenant desire to dispose of his land and stock, the consent of the Committee thereto must be first obtained and purchaser approved. The Committee, however, in all cases to have the first option of purchase, the tenant being entitled | |
126 | to any amount realized over and above the sum due to the Committee. |
X. Any emigrant convicted of any serious crime, or who fails faithfully to fulfil his obligations under these conditions, or is found drunk and disorderly, will be liable to be ejected from his holding summarily by the Committee, who will at once, and without process of law, resume possession of all property delivered to such emigrant. | |
XI. In case of such ejectment, the Committee will give the emigrant credit for the value of any improvements made by him on his holding and for any sums of money received from him; and should the total amount of the same exceed the amount in which such emigrant is indebted on account of the expenses aforesaid, including any special advance which may have been made to him by the Committee, the balance in favour of the emigrant shall be paid to him by the Committee. | |
XII. Facilities for educational purposes will be provided, information regarding which will be detailed in due course. | |
XIII. Emigrants will embark in London, | |
127 | and disembark at ---, in the Colony of ---. They will then proceed to their destination in -- . |
I, the undersigned, ---, do hereby agree to the aforegoing conditions of emigration, and I do further covenant and promise faithfully to perform all the obligations by the said conditions imposed upon me. Given under my hand at --, this -- day of --, 188-. | |
The first principle guiding the administration of a new settlement must be nonshrinkage of capital. If capital is lost, alms have been bestowed which might as well have been thrown in the sea. Repayment by the settlers of their advances is only possible when the settlers themselves are capable and efficient. Efficiency, therefore, must be rigidly prescribed in the choice of settlers, and a resolute maintenance of the highest standard is the truest kindness both to those who leave the mother country and to those who remain behind. | |
Ambitious projects involving the expenditure of hundreds of thousands, and even of millions of money, are from time to time submitted | |
128 | to the consideration of the Colonial Office. Paper security is all that can be offered as a pledge of the return of the capital advanced, and consequently no ambitious scheme on a large scale has yet received the support of a responsible Minister. From study and experience I am of opinion that success is more likely to attend the organization of small colonizing schemes than those of more ambitious proportions. For the sum of ten thousand pounds from three to four hundred souls can be planted out with every reasonable prospect of a return of the capital invested. Much tact, industry, and skill are required in the organization of a new settlement; but in no department of enterprise is the result of success so rich and so permanent as in the establishment of a new colony. Exactly three hundred years have elapsed since the enterprising navigators of Elizabeth's reign planted the first English Colony in Virginia. Gilbert and Raleigh contended with difficulties to which this generation is a stranger. To-day the task is easier, but no less fraught with the destinies of a great nation. Gilberts and Raleighs are still to be |
129 | found capable and wise enough to conduct to a successful issue colonizing schemes appropriate to our changed conditions of life. Ecclesiastical tyranny no longer drives into the wilderness legions of Huguenots or of Puritans. But the pressure of want ever tightening its grip over masses of the population supplies all the centrifugal force formerly generated by the cruelty of priests and the persecutions of bigot kings. |
Colonization in the nineteeth century has been suspended. It is the one problem which requires money to set it in action and to conduct the process of settlement to a final issue. Much of the money expended in emotional charities, and in the maintenance of paid secretaries, might as well be poured into the sea for all the permanent good effected by the expenditure. Divert the stream of pauper-raising charities to supporting a system of colonization, and the public will have, at all events, some assurance of permanently (and without the waste or extinction of capital) converting idle labourers into producers of wealth for themselves and for those left at home, with whom rivalry for a crust will have ceased for ever. | |
