Conference Held to Discuss Population

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1949, Page 6

Conference Held to Discuss Population

Press Association)

(P'er

AUgUSl 4d. Aii immigration -poiicy that would bring . into . New Zealand 140,000 persons in the next three years, was adopted in outline by the conference on population today. • ' * The conference also decided to seek a Royal Commission on - population and immigration. It wijl similjyhy put, by a ■ jrepresentative delSgWfqn |; to the Got-% ernment at a date after the election, a case on population. The conference was called by the Do ininion Settlement and Population As ' soeiation. A resolution covermg immigration was moved by the president oi ' tlie-N.Z.R.S.A., Sir Howard Kippenberger, and seconded by the president oi. the Settiement Association, Mr A. Leigh Hunt. It said: " In order to contribute , t.p the national seeurity and welf'are and prosperity of the Dominion, this conference of delegates i'rom organisations liaving a totaJ membership of 273,000, urges the adoption of a vig orous immigration poiicy with the ob jective of the introduction of the absolute maximum of new settlers eaeli year. ' ' Skilled and unslcilled workers, family groups, British children and dispiaced persons, were included in the categories. At least 10,000 were sought for 1050, 50,000 for 1051 and 80,000 for 1952. About 30 delegates representing in inost cases national organisations, at tended the conference. The proposa: \ submitted 'was supported by all delegates who spoke, tliough the first speak er, Mr A. P. O'Shea, for Federated Fai mers, opposed it. Other business. . dealt with by the conference included housing. It decid ed to seek a conference of experts to discuss this question from the supph of materials to building. A proposed land poiicy, submitted bv the Dominion Settiement and Population Association as a niotion for the conference 's approval, was withdrawi. after Sir Howard Ivippenberger an-1 other delegates said they felt it would be outside their province to consider.