A DEPUTATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1922, Page 1

A DEPUTATION.

WORK FOR IMMIGRANTS.

BY TELEGRAPH—-PKKSB ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 1

\ deputation of engineers waited on the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, and asked that the Government’s policy of bringing artisan immigrants to New Zealand be stopped ° “ To invite artisans to come to New Zealand now, simply is adding to our unemployed,” said Mr King, secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Ama - gamated Engineering Union. He stated that during the past eight months and a half many engineers have been discharged from the Christchurch works. Mr F. G. Harding said that he came here as a nominated immigrant, in August. He was skilled in several branches of engineering, and had been in charge of a floating dock. He was told at the New Zealand High Commissioners Office in London that he would have no difficulty whatever in finding work in New Zealand, and he was advised to come. He did not find work until he had been here nine weeks. _ He had worked a s a marine engineer m Lyttelton, hut lmd had no work for the past month. ‘Would any sensible man come lo,0(JU miles, if he knew he would be coming to starvation?” he asked. The Minister: “What officer m the High Commissioner’s Office told you you would get plenty of work here? ” Mr Harding: “I don’t know.” The Minister: “Was it Sir James Allen or Mr Donne?” Mr Harding: “No. Now that I come to think of it, it was Mr Campbell.” Mr J. Smith s aid he was given to understand in England in May that engineers were so scare here that the employers were fighting for them 1 Hon. Mr Anderson said that a committee of the Cabinet had been set up to prepare for dealing with the unemployed question. The Government would do its part, but it would look to the local bodies, especially m the four cities, to do their part. If that were done, the position, he thought, would be met fairly, and probably very successfully during the coming winter. Immigration was not his portfolio, hut the statements made would be sent to the Minister in Charge. Mr iE. J. Howard, M.P., said th e young men who had spoken were jthe very type—with training, brains and energy—who should be most heartily welcomed to this country. They should be given sufficient to maintain themselves here. The Minister said that every year, from the beginning of settlement in New Zealand, there had been unemployed, and there always would he.