“Immigration No Solution For Imbalance Of Economy”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 12

“Immigration No Solution For Imbalance Of Economy”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 2. Little more than 1000 selected immigrant workers would Up the employment balance in New Zealand, the president of Use Federation of Labour Mr F. P. Walsh! told the atruri conference of the federation today. The tao-tage of labour in New Zealand was “partly real, and partly imaginary” And current economic problems made it clear that New Zealand's needs would lessen later this year. “The shortage has arisen • from the expansion of secondary industry under the Labour Government. This expansion is putting us out of balance Just now. but it is necessary to employ our future population. -The present difficulty is that the labour employable in secondary industry de-

pends on th* funds available overeete t> purchase raw material*. We raurt suit the pace of <n- development to the money m baod." Inunigrt®® would not cure the ; r.balanceof the economy. The Government had alreadybeen forced to cut imports and next it would be forced to “turn off the tap of bank credit which brought about oar excessive <fed not oppose immigration as such. It welcomed immigrants as long as these was work, housing, and amenities for them. •>Qur employment balance

is much more delicate than many seem to realise. The records show vacancies and people unemployed at the same time. “In 1959. the average number of vacancies were 5300, but there were also 1183 people unemployed, and several hundred others who found employment on Government and local body projects.” Employers advised the department of vacancies, but if the unemployed were not qualified to fill the vacancies, or if they were in a different part of the country, they were not helped by the vacant jobs.

Sometimes employers who were expanding did not take into account the fact that they would share their potential market with competitors, and all the competitors would notify vacancies for staff to do the same Job.

“The sky is not the limit, as some employers imagine," Mr Walsh said. “From the Labour Department’s placement figures it seems that not much more than 1000 selected immigrant workers would fill all genuine needs, remembering that there are some categories where skilled workers cannot be obtained overseas,” Mr Walsh said.