IMMIGRANTS’ PROSPECTS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1923, Page 4

IMMIGRANTS’ PROSPECTS

MR WIGNAI.I. (IN DEAR LAND AND INCH RENTS. AICKI.AND, Oct. 3. hack of a deilniie Dominion policy on miniigra i mil and absence oi invent—able boU'siii;.; eondiuoo- site serious limitations notic'd by Mr A\igna!l. M.R., the Labour lidegale with liie Overseas Settlement Delegation, during the investigations in New Z .tland. Mr Wignall said t i;e d. legation was ■sent: out solely t,, investigate any scheme or plan arranged by ihe New Zealand Government to take advantage of the Empire Settlement Act. "We find that there i- no definite', police laid down by the New Zealand Government for migration fioiu the I Old Country, and there lias been not scheme or plan we could ('('insider nr I investigate." Mr Wignall declared, j The result is that the main purpose of] 1 the mission has not been accomplished in Now Zealand. There seemed to he ' some sort of belief that the liriti-h , Government was likelv to purchase , land in the Dominion and settle some of Britain's surplus population upon t it. That, however, was not the ease, -

as the British Government did no cimleniphite buying land in lit Dominion or sp,ending money in tha direction. That was solely a matte for the New Zealand Government, am all the British Government could di was to select or assist migrants G settle on land already provided wliet requested to do s,> |, v agreement be tween the two Governments. "From a Labour point of view I car only -av that land here i- too oosth at pres,nit to recommend people cvci with capital to settle on." he said "while the shortage of houses would make it very difficult for people to find accommodation. The imposition of high rents is the most daring thing have over come in contact with. The outlook for immigrants coining to New Zealand i- not very promising under present conditions.'’ Regarding the operation of the existing nomination system Mr Wignall said it was very proper and correct provided it was not misused by people who failed to carry out their obligations. He was satisfied that the immigration officers were doing all in their power to safeguard the system from abuse. Tt, was not the intention of the British Government to add to New Zealand's difficulties hy flooding the country with jiooplo who would possibly become part of the unemployed.