The Dominion. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1920 HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION
The suggestion has been heard fairly often of late that it would be wrong to bring out any considerable number of immigrants to this country until adequate provision has been made for housing its present inhabitants. If this meant that immigration must await a full solution of the housing problem, the prospect opened would be anything but hopeful. At the stage reached by the Dominion, the early introduction of a large body of immigrants of the right type is a necessary condition of town and country development, and of the extotisi.m of primary and secondary industries. New Zealand can ill-afford to stand aside at a time when such immigrants as arc leaving Great Britain are being,gathered in eagerly by Canada, Australia, and other parts of the Empire. While it is evident that the prospective introduction of Humorous immigrants supplies an additional reason for expediting the construction of dwellings, the idea that immigration must wait on housing could easily be carried to a ridiculous extreme. As the contention is state'-. it frequently takes insufficient account of existing facts. The, Piuhf, Minister hns done something to restore a balanced view of the position in replying to a letter on the subject from Mn. P. FitAsmt, M.P., Mr.'. Massey points out that tho. number of houses under construction is large._ A considerable amount of detail information* undc _ this head has been published during the last few days, and more is promised. It is also mentioned by the Paiye Minister that the
Government, is arranging to secure large supplies oi timber, to manufacture joinery, and to import other building materials, and that the Immigration Department is extending preference meantime to such immigrants as domestic workers and farm hands who arc not likely to require separate housing accommodation. Mil. ALassey nugiu easily hare carried the matter further. Not only farm workers and domestic servants', hut a very large proportion of the immigrants this country most needs might bo brought in without adding in any way to the stringency of the housing problem where it is most acutely felt, that is to say in the larger centres of population. For years to come, nothing is likely to afford more legitimate scope for immigration than the prosecution of public works—roads, railways, hydro-electric development, and so forth. A special housing problem is no doubt involved in providing satisfactory accommodation for workers employed on such tindertakings and for their families, but it ought to admit of easier solution than the housing; problem that is raised in the cities and other large centres. In connection with public works, the Government probably would be well advised to look into the question of providing comfortable temporary buildings which on occasion could be shifted from one site to another at moderate expense. As to the main question, instead of assuming hastily that because there is a housing problem in the Dominion immigration must halt, it seems more reasonable to urge that immigrants should be selected carefully, and made to understand clearly what openings are available and what conditions they will face on arriving in this country. _ There is an ample opening meantime for those who arc prepared to accept public or private employment in the country, and particularly in areas of development. It, of course, would be .wrong to pack people into overcrowded towns, but an exception ought to be made here in favour of building tradesmen, where they are available, and it is to be hoped that the shortage of houses will not indefinitely exclude the introduction of skilled workers in other secondary industries which arc now offered an unexampled opportunity of gaining a_ footing in the Dominion, or extending their present scope, In considering this question and in shaping a workable policy, it ought to count for a good' deal that the housing problem is far enough from being confined to New Zealand, and that it presents itself in a much more acute form in many parts of Great Britain, tho external source to which this country chiefly looks for new population. With its housing _ problem, the Dominion offers immigrants of ■She right calibre reasonably good opportunities of making homes for themselves, and if the facts are iairly prosented there is no reason to suppose that such immigrants will ho discouraged by tho shortcomings and difficulties of the existing situation. Granted a policy of enterprising progress, and a sound lead on the part of the Government and local bodies, the country will soon he well advanced towards a' solution of the housing problem arid others which now loom formidably. Tho only clanger tobe feared is that useful and promising opportunities may be neglected. In the provision of dwellings there is great scope for improving upon existing methods and organisation. The Government already is doing a good deal in this direction, but' ought to be prepared still to oxtend its activities. For instances, now that a Forestry Department has been established under expert control, it is open to the Government to play a big part in ensuring satisfactory supplies of timber in the near future and for years to come, There are still a few State forests containing considerable quantities of ripe timber, and it ought to be possible henceforth to guard against the waste of timber in connection with the settlement of bush lands. The Prime Ministers statement that large supplies of timber are to be obtained from an area of Crown land in the North Island suggests that this .vitally important matter is not being overlooked. A balanced survey of the facts in sight suggests that there is no valid reason why immigration on a fairly extensive scale should not proceed simultaneous!" with measures aiming at the full-solution of the housing problem.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 168, 12 April 1920, Page 4
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961The Dominion. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1920 HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 168, 12 April 1920, Page 4
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