IMMIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 131, 4 June 1937, Page 10

IMMIGRATION

NEEDS OF INDUSTRY

MANUFACTURERS'VIEWS SOUGHT

To ascertain how many extra hands could be employed, by the members of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association if suitable workers were available, a circular has been sent by.. -Its migration sub-committee to members of the association. ' ' . ..... :

The question is qualified by ■■the1., assumption that business willcontinue'lo improve during the next 12 months to the extent that it has done in the past year. Under authority of the. president of the' association, the convener, of 'ths sub-committee (Mr. R.^G. Buckleton') wrote to the members as follows:—;

"You will remember :that the Auckland and Wellington Manufacturers' Associations presented remits on migration to the. annual conference of .the New- Zealand Manufacturers' . Federation, and thaf.it passed the,following resolution: 'This conference recommends the Government'to institute' an urgent inquiry into the practicability of Jarge-scale immigration and urban settlement.' ~.;.;.

"It is, obvious from: the ■ recentlycabled statements of the Prime Minister and1 the Minister of, Finance, with the statement of the Minister .of Industries and Commerce, at the recent 'annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, that/the Government has ho migration policy in view-other than perhaps 'no migration until-all the unemployed are back at work.'

URGENT NATIONAL MATTER.

"There is. probably no matter of more urgent national.importance ..than migration, and the efforts.of the New Zealand Five Million Club, the Dominion Settlement Association, the various, contributors of Press articles, and .the Press itself, clearly*' ; indicate a;• very strong body of public bpinion'iri favour of the immediate establishment of properly-planned and -financed largescale migration. . . ' ■■' • "Enlightened ■ opinion' indicates : that employment is now about normal and that those still unemployed have -little chance1 of being absorbed unless actual migration is again started: ; Our.population.is almost, stationary, pur birthrate is declining, and "it-is obvious that there,is no'future for you'-as.ah individual manufacturer, unless, our .population is quickly and substantially,'increased.- ; . : • -. ■ ■- ..-'.'. --

■: "The majority of-our members -:.are continually complaining that they.;-.are, unable to get suitable hands, arid one estimate has been .made that New; Zealand's manufacturing, industries : could absorb 10,000 to 12,000' hands immediately if the right types were available.

A QUESTIONNAIRE.

"Accordingly, the migration.sub-com-mittee has come to the conclusion..that the most valuable immedaite action .to further the development of migration is to get a cross-section of manufacturing industry to. ascertain how 'many hands could be employed 'by members of the Wellington Manufacturers'' Association if suitable hands were available, and assuming that, business conditions will continue to improve during the next 12' months at the same rate as they have improved' during the past year. W.e shall therefore be pleased if you will fill in the enclosed schedule and 'return it to ■. the". Secretary• -within seven days.. The information lor which you are asked will be without commitments and will be held confidential. .All returns -will' be analysed., and the results are expected to show some:interesting figures. These total figures will probably bemused .pubUclyJor.the, furtherance of our association's efforts on migration. Please include- office workers and hands required for de-: velopment which you are now holding upon account of the shortage of suit-, able labour. " ■ - "This matter is. highly, important, said Mr. Buckleton, • "and we ask you to do your utmost to make this preliminary survey of our human indus-, trial resources a great'success." " | The schedule to which Mr. Buckleton refers asks for a return of skilled | males; other males, .including boys;, skilled females; other females, inclua-i ing girls. Opportunity is-given for-anj explanation- why the- manufacturers cannot fill the available,.or prospective, positions from the ranks' of the unemplr,7ed. '• . "' .: