Immigration View Defended

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 18

Immigration View Defended

Mr R. E. Jack (Govt Patea) had said in the Budget debate that the manufacturers’ immigration policy was one of unenlightened selfinterest, said the acting president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr J. D. Bull) at the association’s council meeting last evening.

“I fail to see how we can be unenlightened," said Mr Bull. The president of the Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr J. R. Maddren) said that no further reply from the Government had been received or this important subject He would defy Mr Jack to point out how immigration was inflationary. It was logical that manufacturers should bring in more works when they were available to them. This would help to use existing plant to the full, particularly in view of the difficulty of obtaining licences to get more plant. Mr Maddren said that ifj more plant utilisation could-

not be obtained, it would be hard to prevent a shortage of goods. The federation, he said, was most interested to know what the recommendations of the Monetary and Economic Council were on immigration. “We know that Mr Shand has referred the matter to the council,” said Mr Maddren. Mr D. R. Hindson said that there was a lack of follow-up of inquiries, from overseas. It had been two months since his firm had obtained the approval to obtain a skilled mar from England. There had still been no move by the immigration people in London.