IMMIGRATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17126, 22 April 1921, Page 8

IMMIGRATION.

NEW SOUTH WALES POLICY. In riew'of the New South "Wales Labour delegation to Britain to stop imiiniglation, the following statement of the Government's policy in regard to immigration was clearly set out by Mr Tooley, Acting Premier, recently. "The Cabinet's attitude on the yibject was deliued on, February, 23rd, lollowlng upon an interview which Colonel luylor, of the tiaivatipn Army, had with me," siud Mr Dooley. "colonel 'laylor called upon hie and asked what were the actual prospects of immigration so for as this Suite was oouaaned. My reply to him was embodied in a mmute approved by Cabinet that day. Lu the course of this minute L said: " 'We have a coastline, with 8. wellwatered hinterland, extending buck a, .distance of 200 or 300 niilus. Some, of the adjacent country is mountainous, but a great deal of it is very Valuable, i and contains rich soil. A large portion is available for,closer settlement, but the remainder is land-locked, and not available. " 'lt is no use stating that we are at the present time open to receive numbers of immigrants, because it i» * fact that there are hundreds -of desirable bona-fide settlers, with a little capital. ready and willing to go on the good lands of this State if they are made available. Until sufficiently drastic legislation is passed to cause the Valuable land to be thrown open, the Government cannot say that it is ready *• accept settlers. " 'The western country must be developed by intensive schemes of irrigation, and particularly water conservation, which will involve the expenditure of enormous sums of money. The money ,Will, however; be well spent, and will make the western' country, which is subject to periodical droughts, "capable of absorbing millions of people. | " 'To bring people here at present in search of employment is ridiculous, M I we have a large number of unemployed of our own, and it is very difficult to finance the public works which ate now in hand;

" 'Until the problems indicated are solved it would be unfair to the British settler to nsk him to come to Australia. We hope that within the next twelve months, if money becom.-s a little cheaper, and more plentiful, and Appropriate land legislation h passed, wo shall be able to ask for as many suitable settlers as the Old Country can provide for lisl* "After Cabinet" endorsed this minute I forwarded a copy of it Co the Primo Minister, with on intimation that it represents the policy of the New Soiiib. Wales Government. I also sent a copy to Mr John Storey,'' added Mr Dooley.