MIGRATION PLANS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 4

MIGRATION PLANS

Mr. Fraser States New, Zealand’s Views HOUSING FIRST (Official News Service.) LONDON, May 13.

The Dominion Prime Ministers recorded their views on immigration at the Commonwealth Conference at its last meeting of the second week. Problems and principles emphasized by New Zealand have much in common with those put forward by other Dominions, and it is expected that further examination of this subject will be made by a special Commonwealth committee.

Mr. Fraser has referred to immigration several times in (Press interviews since his arrival in the United Kingdom. Briefly the views he has expressed' publicly may be summarized as follows: New Zealand recognizes the importance of having a larger population not only for the development of natural resources of the Dominion, upon which its high standard of living depends, but also for security reasons. However, till the immediate post-war economic situation is clarified, specially in regard to the extreme shortage of housing, it is not in a position to formulate plans for immigration to cover the period of demobilization and readjustment of industry in the immediate post-war period. The New Zealand Government is emphatic that its first duty is housing and the rehabilitation of tens of thousands of New Zealand sen-icemen, and, till this duty is fulfilled, it could not encourage the belief that the country would (be in a position immediately after the war to absorb large numbers of immigrants. ■ If it may be possible under some planned system to bring to New Zealand quantities of machinery for various industrial enterprises then it would certainly be feasible and desirable to bring operatives with machines and assure them of good living (prospects. But the onlymain difficulty of such a scheme is that the United Kingdom will be anxious to keep for her own immense task of reconstruction the very type of migrant who would be most useful in New Zealand. . . Mr. Fraser has also made the point in public statements and has emphasized to the conference that when immigration does become possible those men who have fought side by side with our own troops such as the 51st Division and airmen and sailors would be assured of warm welcome in (New Zealand. He also reiterated the willingness of the Dominion to consider favourably any proposals for reciprocity of social security for similar benefits between New Zealand and the other nations of the Commonwealth. He has stated publicly that the New Zealand Minister of Social Security had specially requested him to discuss this and explore the possibility of laying the foundations for reciprocity between Britain and New Zealand. Mr. Curtin’s Empire secretariat project has been relegated to last place on the agenda, states a Press Association message. ' It is becoming more and more evident that the best that can now be hoped for will ibe a compromise on Mr. Curtin’s original proposals. Mr. Fraser, who earlier was expected' to prove Mr. Curtin’s strongest supporter, has since revealed that he is entirely satisfied with the present method of consultation, though maintaining an open mind on improvements. . , ~ After a visit of only a- few hours to Edinburgh, where he received the freedom of the city, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, flew back to the south of England by special plane yesterday to join the party of Prune Ministeis in specting invasion, preparations with Air. Churchill.