N.Z.’S POPULATION NEEDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 13

N.Z.’S POPULATION NEEDS

APPEAL FOR ADMISSION EUROPEAN REFUGEES UPPER HOUSE DEBATE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the Legislative Council on Friday afternoon the Hon. T. Bloodworth moved that in view of the urgent need for a larger population in New Zealand for commercial and industrial defence and general development purposes, and to help in the European refugee problem, the Government be urged to accelerate the rate of admission of refugees and to set up a committee to inquire into immigration.

New Zealand needed more population, lie said, and if something were not done there was a danger of a decline in population in the future. It was estimated that there were 1,500,000 refugees in Europe, of whom two-thirds were Jews. In the name of Christian humanity, New Zealanders should do something for them.

The Hon. W. Perry, seconded the motion and said that the refugee problem had both moral and economic aspects. He urged support for more immigration.

The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre said he felt it was hard to speak against such a motion, but he thought it would be unwise to admit Central European Jews into New Zealand in large numbers. New Zealand should draw on the unemployed in England and should next try to get immigrants from Denmark and Scandar.avia because those people mingled with the British and became good New Zealanders. The debate was interrupted at 4.30 p.m.

The council resumed at 5.45 o’clock to receive the Finance Bill and Land Income Tax Bill from the House of Representatives. Both measures were put through all stages and passed.

The Council adjourned at (i. 20 p.m, until Wednesday. .