MIGRATION MINISTER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1928, Page 6

MIGRATION MINISTER

LORD LOVAT ARRIVES. (By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, Oct, 8. Lord Lovat, Minister ml Charge of Overseas Settlement, arrived to-day bv the Niagara. He will spend two weeks in New Zealand. At his civic reception to-day, Fail'd Lovat said; Wo do not come with any preconceived ideas. We hope to discuss with your Government the settlement of the white population within the Empire. We still wish to send the right people to you. and you still wish to .have them. 1 do trust that we may be able to bring the wellthrough out idea, held equally in all parts of the Empire, to a workable scheme.”

t Asked what effect this immigration would have on labour, Lord Lovat oaid : “There is no reason why it should not adjust the labour market.” New jobs were found,'and new openings .were created by the very fact of a numbd 1 of men coming into the country. Questioned in regard to the recent Ottawa cablegram staling that the Canadian Immigration Department are considering a proposal by the British Government for the settlement of 20.000 British families on Canadian farms, Lord Lovat said : “It is all wrong. It is inaccurate throughout. There is no authority for it, I cannot comment thereon, as this matter is under discussion at the present time.” AUCKLAND. Oct. 8.

Lord Lovat was accorded a civic reception, at which Str Heaton Rhodes represented the Government. Sir H, Rhodes mentioned that tire average number of immigrants between 1920 and 1926 was 8090. This influx had been temporarily checked, hut they all lioped and believed that the balance of the importations of immigrants of the right type would speedily readjust itself. “1. can say at once.” said Lord Lovat, “that 1 have the very greatest pleasure in coming to New Zealand. We have had a most satisfactory conversation with the Federal Government of Canada, and we hope our stay in New Zealand will he equally productive of good results. We believe that toe essential and basic principles of the Land Settlement Act (passed at 'Westminster many years ago) are equally true to-day. AVe still wish to send the right people, and you still wish to have them. The distribution of the white population within the Emprc is a most uUhcult problem, and it is becoming more serious day by day. As we see other nations growing up around ?us. 1 do trust that we mav he aide to I? . • bring the well thought out idea which is held equally in all parts of the Empire to a workable scheme.”

Lord Lovat was also entertained hv the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Society at luncheon. He leaves for Hamilton to-morrow night.