SETTLEMENT DELEGATION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1923, Page 2

SETTLEMENT DELEGATION

AIMS OVTIJXEI). [bv TKLKCIIAPII —PER Pit ESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17. The members of t-lie British Overset’s Settlement Delegation were accorded a civic reception to-day. In replying to the various speeches of welcome. Sir William AA indhani said the delegitibn had I ecu greatly encouraged throughout its travels by flic strongly British sentiment which it had found everywhere—the spirit which was embodied in the word ‘'Home.” Such a feeling gave good promise to the British immigrant. Sir William Windham described the delegation's efforts to obtain a general view of the conditions of life roid work throughout the Dominions, in furtherance of Imperial migration, under the recent Act of the Imperial Parliament-. He referred to the evils and dirawbacks and unrestricted and unregulated immigration. such as prevailed before the war. ‘We are anxious,” lie said, “to send out a man only to an assured job, knowing he is the right type of man. AVc do not- wish to send a type of Ilian which New Zealand does not want, the type which is not likely to succeed.”

The members of the delegation wore entertained at luncheon by the Canterbury Employers’ Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and tlic "Welfare Lon-

gue. MANUKACTUR ER S’ QUESTION. In tne course of a speech, Sir W. Windham said it would he unwise for the Dominion to attempt too much at once. A great deal of development work would have to he done, before the land could carry a greater population, and, in view of the industrial conditions in Europe, it would he equally unwise for New Zealand to attempt to develop her manufacturing industries at n rapid rate. However, there was an almost unlimited demand for foodstuffs. New Zealand had a great future in front, oi her dairy industry, which could bear rapid further development. CARPENTERS WANTED. Mr D. Reese made ail appeal to the delegation on behalf of the building trade. He said the erection of muchneeded now houses in New Zealand was limited onjy by the number of carpenters. bricklayers, and other tradesmen available. The Dominion could absorb a very large number of such tradesmen from Great Britain. A WARNING.

The delegation was met by delegates from various labour unions, who strongly advocated that immigration on a large scale should not ho carried on, and they pointed out that a large influx of immigrants would carsc much unemployment, and have a serious effect on many industries.

Mr F. M. Robson said flic trouble was that many workers have been brought out under very unfair conditions. This was particularly the case in the boot and shoe trade. Workers have been assured that they would find work, and they had found there was no such work, or that they were displacing New Zealanders. They had lieen told that there would be housing for them, but there was not, and they had to crowd their families into only part of a home. This sort of thing had led to trouble of all kinds. Mr C. Renn, speaking on behalf cf the workers in the printing trade, said the number of workers in the trade in Canterbury had been stationary for the past decade. The arrival of only a few skilled tradesmen from Britain was enough to disorganise conditions. At present there was an over-supply of women workers in Christchurch. There was a cleeided surplus, in plain English, the arrival of a large number of immigrants would only mean that either the colonials would go out of their jobs or the immigrants would not get jobs. ;\OW Zealand could absorb immigrants if they dribbled in, hut if large numbers came out, it would be disastrous. Mr H. D. Thomson (Under-Secretary for Imigration) said that as far as nominations for the boot trade were concerned. 40 nominations ha'd been sent in, and 35 people had come, out. One newcomer had written to the department complaining that he was not properly housed, and after the department hod taken action he had expressed satisfaction. At the time the 35 immigrants arrived, the hoot trade needed them. The importation of English hoots, which came in at the rate of 80.000 pairs a month, had caused the trouble which existed in the trade to-day.

The delegation leavo fop the West Conn In the morning,