IMMIGRATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1922, Page 4

IMMIGRATION.

APPROVED liY r.s.a. DISCUSSION AT DISTRICT CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, Ma.v 13 The present policy of bringing ex,i|iperial spldjer immigrants out to the dominion was approved at the annual ■(inference of the Canterbury District Returned Soldiers’ Association yesterlay afternoon. Mr IV. K. liCadley, on behalf of the Christchurch Association, moved the following remit:—“That this conference is of the opinion that the immigration of men and their families is far tpo important to this Dominion to allow of its stoppage even tempprnrily. It therefore urges the Government to make ample provision for absorbing Imperial immigrants by providing a progressive scheme of agricultural training and land stetlepucnt, and tlso hv giving encouragement to now industries which will he the menus of absorbing industrial workers.” Mr Leadley said lie wished to move the remit because be bad noticed that associations throughout the Dominion

had hcen passing resolutions urging the cessation of immigration. Ho believed that people who wore urging the stoppage of immigration were not looking far enough ahead. Unemployment would not always he with them. The time would come when there would he no unemployment, and people would be looking round for workers. He asked them to look at the question from both sides. Immigration was going to ensure the safety of the Dominion. Mr K. 15. Hell: And of the Empire. Continuing, Mr Headley said that immigration would help to bring about a white New Zealand. That might not concern them very much in the South Island, but in the North Island the Chinese and the Indian menace were becoming very apparent. At the present time there were thousands of acres which were not being put to their full productive capacity, and continued immigration would enable those spaces to lw? peopled. Then ,again, the secondary industries would be benefited. Another point was that continued immigration would reduce the per capita burden of the national debt. Mr Headley drew attention to the fact that the great majority of the immigrants during the past few years had been Imperial soldiers, their wives and their families. He contended that it would he ungracious to say that those men wlm fought alongside the New Zealand soldiers should not he allowed to come out to the Dominion, lie Imped that they would not allow a temporary difficulty to obscure their vision of the future. Mr 11. 11. Hell I'Shmth Canterbury) s coiulcd the motion. He pointed out that at the present time there were one and a half million unemployed in England, and it was surely the duty of New Zealand to help the Old Country in its present difficulties. Sometimes when they saw men out of work and right up against tilings they were inclined to think that immigration should he stopped, but they should look ahead and recognise that their present difficulties would soon he overcome. He asked that the question should he regarded from a national standpoint. Mr E. Orchard (.Christchurch) also supported the remit. Mr A. 11. M’ivaue (Greymoutli) opposed the motion. He said that the men were brought out under a guarantee of employment, and in many eases when the guarantee ran out the men were put out of work. He had seen numerous eases of immigrants in great distress. He was a member of the Greymouth Patriotic Committee, anti at practically every meeting they were called upon to render assistance to immigrants who were stranded and who were not suitable for New Zealand conditions. The speaker contended that the land polity of the Dominion was not tit all suitable for immigrants, liy bringing the men out they were forcing hardship upon them. That afternoon they had passed a remit drawing attention to the need nf houses, and, in his °pi nion, if they could not find houses for their own people it was unfair to bring other families out to the Dominion. Tie moved as an ante ml meal:—“That this conference urges the Government to make ample provision for absorbing Imperial immigrants by providing a progressive scheme of agricultural training ami land settlement, and also by giving encouragement to new industries which will be the means of absorbing industrial workers, before continuing the present immigration policy.”

wits impossible to compare those eonilitioiis with comlitions in Xew Zealand, lie Imped they would think very seriously before they stopped immigrants coniine; out. He could assure the delegates that the immigrants who were unemployed were infinitely better oil in New Zealand than they would be in the Old Country. Mr O. W. Lloyd (Hokitika) contended that the men were being brought out under false pretences. They were induced to sell up their homes and come out to jolts, but when they arrived they found there were no jobs tor them. Mr Leadley said there were thousands of notes in New Zealand that should be opened up, but he wished to point out that the same applied to Kngland. There were thousands ot

ier.es in England that could be opened jp, and it was time England got busy. 1 Mr Lcadley: They bare been opened up now. Mr Lloyd: “Well, I’m glad to bear it.” 'l'lio speaker said be bad met numbers of immigrants with curses on tbeir lips, and many would be only too glad to go back if they could. He hoped that immigration would be immediately stopped until conditions got better.' . Mr Lemllcy, replying, expressed the opinion that the present condition of a (Fairs was purely temporary and that this winter would see the worst ovei. The amendment was defeated by eight votes to three. The motion was carried.