'SERIOUS QUESTION'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 106, 21 May 1937, Page 4

'SERIOUS QUESTION'

Minister on Immigration Problem "Immigration is a serious question. I am not against immigration, but before we had them treading on eaeh others ' heels I first want know the land that they are to be put on to, what the soil will produce and the mat* ket for it," said the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, at Napier yesterday when asked for his views on immigration. He xegarded the New Zealand emigrant as being unsurpassed and paid a tribute to the worthy motherhood of the country. One of the mo'st important questions was in the New Zealand--bom child it« self, said the Minister. He said he considered that there were no better emigrants than New Zealanders. The birth-rate of our own country could bo oucouraged if a proper policy was em* marked upon. "Wo have got to give recognition to the country in th© service that is being given," said the Minister. "In the production of children within the nation the mother givee the greatest of all. If she were given proper recognision, there would not be any shrinki ing by the young motherhood of this cf'untry. I am not at all sure that we are reeognising a motherhood as we ought to. This is a living and a human question which has to be wrestled with. I am satisfied that it is not insuperable and can ,be solved with proper organisation."