Colonial Emigration Society Prospectus




344

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Honorary Treasurer :
Mr. Edward Gem.
Bankers :
Messrs. Lloyd.
Secretary (pro tem.) :
Mr. John Bate.

OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY.

To disseminate information on the subject of Emigration.

To assist intending Emigrants by information and advice.

To make arrangements for the passage of Emigrants to the Colonies.

To make advances, by way of loan, whenever the funds of the Society shall permit, to Emigrants, for their outward passage.

To correspond with the Colonial Governments in reference to the labour requirements of their respective Colonies, and the classes of Emigrants needed ; and to obtain their co-operation and support.

To carry out these objects, the Committee appeal to the Nobility, Gentry, and inhabitants generally of the vast district of which Birmingham is the centre, confidently anticipating for the undertaking the support it deserves.

To the mercantile classes, the Committee desire to point out the increasing commerce which must result from the development of our Colonies ; in proof of which it has been ascertained that our South Pacific Colonies take from us, in imports, for every man, woman, and child of their respective populations, on the average, from £8 to £10 per head per annum ; while the United States were only customers to us in 1859 (before the war began) at the rate of 17s. per head.

To the ratepayers they say, "Help our superabundant population, and prevent them from becoming paupers, by the advice and assistance it will be the province of this Society to supply."

From our inland position, correct information on the important subject of emigration is difficult to obtain. The numerous inquiries made, since the Meeting* was held at the Midland Institute, show the interest felt in it here to be as great as in other parts of the kingdom ; and there is not a doubt that the Colonies will gladly co-operate with a society established on sound principles, whose aim will be to send the "right people to the right place," for their benefit equally with their own.

It is not proposed to give free passages, but to grant assistance by loans, at the discretion of the Committee, to deserving Emigrants ; and it is hoped the Society will, in a few years, have at its disposal a Benevolent Fund sufficient to compass a great and constantly increasing amount of good. As it will materially aid the undertaking if the Colonial Commissioners, who attended the preliminary meeting, are in a position to inform their different Governments, on returning to the Colonies, that the Society has commenced its operations, the Committee earnestly impress on all able and willing to assist in this good work the importance of not losing time in raising the necessary funds.

Signed on behalf of the Committee,
EDWARD GEM, Chairman.
Birmingham, Sept., 1862.

CONSTITUTION AND LAWS.

The Society shall be denominated "The Colonial Emigration Society;" Donors of Five Guineas and upwards, and Annual Subscribers of One Guinea and upwards, shall be Members, entitled to vote at annual or special meetings of the Society.

OFFICERS.

The Society shall be managed by a President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, and a Committee of twelve members, to be elected from the Donors and Subscribers at the annual meeting of the Society.

SECRETARY.

The Committee shall be empowered to appoint a paid Secretary, and to provide suitable offices for carrying on the business of the Society.

BANKERS.

The banking account of the Society shall be opened in the name of the Treasurer, and all cheques shall be signed by him and countersigned by the Honorary Secretary.

MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Committee shall meet on the first Friday in each month (or oftener), at three o'clock, p.m., for the transaction of business ; three to form a quorum. They will also fix the time and place for the annual meetings of the Society, when the Officers and Committee for the ensuing year shall be elected, and the Treasurer's accounts (previously audited) and annual report be submitted. A special meeting of the Members of the Society shall be called by the President or the Committee at any time they may consider such meeting advisable, or on a requisition of twelve Members, addressed to the Honorary Secretary.

DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS, AND COLONIAL AID.

The Treasurer, Bankers, and Honorary Secretary shall be empowered to receive donations, subscriptions, and remittances from the Colonies, for the passage of Emigrants, and to sign receipts on behalf of the Society.

COLONIES.

A special duty of the Committee shall be to open communications with the various Colonial Governments, for the purpose of obtaining their co-operation and support, as well as such information as may promote the objects of the Society and the welfare of intending Emigrants.

  • The Preliminary Meeting, held on the 20th of August, was presided over by H. Manton, Esq., Mayor of Birmingham, and attended by an influential company of merchants and manufacturers. Lord Lyttelton was present, and also the following Commissioners from the Colonies to the International Exhibition :—Hon. B. Wier, Nova Scotia ; B. Chamberlain, Esq., Canada ; Sedgwick Cowper, Esq., New South Wales ; F. G. Knight, Esq., Victoria ; Captain Bagot, South Australia ; and Dr. Milligan, Tasmania.


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PDF PDF NZ Gazette 1862, No 40





✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🛂 Prospectus, Constitution, and Laws of the Colonial Emigration Society

🛂 Immigration
1 September 1862
Emigration, Colonial Emigration Society, Birmingham, Labour requirements, Emigrants, International Exhibition
9 names identified
  • John Bate (Mr.), Secretary (pro tem) of the Society
  • H. Manton (Esquire, Mayor of Birmingham), Presided over preliminary meeting
  • Lyttelton (Lord), Attended preliminary meeting
  • B. Wier (Honourable), Commissioner from Nova Scotia
  • B. Chamberlain (Esquire), Commissioner from Canada
  • Sedgwick Cowper (Esquire), Commissioner from New South Wales
  • F. G. Knight (Esquire), Commissioner from Victoria
  • Bagot (Captain), Commissioner from South Australia
  • Milligan (Doctor), Commissioner from Tasmania

  • Edward Gem, Chairman