HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1925, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 21). In the House of oCmmons, discussing the Colonial Estimates, lion L. C. Amery, dealing with the immigration question, said part of the reason why the Empire Settlement Act could not lie worked to the full extent lay in the fact tin- public overseas bad not sullieiently grasped the effect of the set I lenient policy in building up national Jives. Immigration was far too often regarded by one class overseas as the means of securing cheap labour, in which respect the immigrant from Central and Eastern Europe was more ready to tolerate low wages, and by another section as a potential .source ol labour competition. There was also the ever increasing inducement to stay at home, owing to our health unemployment fund and now widowhood insurance. He suggested consideration of reciprocal Empire arrangements to prevent these beneficial measures exercising a retarding |Ulllienee on the free movement ol population within the Empire. It was only fair to state that those; willing to go Overseas, if assisted, still considerably exceeded those whom the Dominions were prepared to assist. Immigration had fallen over sixty per cent front the pre-war figure despite the Empire Settlement Act. heeau.se the Dominions like ourselves. lia<) not recovered from the effects of the war. Another serious factor was that out lessening exports and increasing eonsumption, left a dwindling margin lor tin- investment of capital overseas. It was of little use to profess a policy of Empire settlement, unless we were also prepared to favour a policy ol Enipiie marketing and Empire investment. lie hoped a non-partv agreement would lie reached, finding’ways and means of framing an Imperial economic policy.