IMMIGRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2148, 10 July 1920, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

WHAT the Dominion wants is more population. The native-born is the best immigrant, but unfortunately many of our fairly well-to-do population—daughters and granddaughters of the pilgrim fathers — best circumstanced to keep the cradles full, refuse to play the game—and pay the penalty in their individual lives. In the meantime the State suffers for the lack of the native-born. Asiatics and undesirables are increasing and menacing the purity of the race. The Government is endeavouring lo equalise things by inducing suitable British immigrants to settle here, and in order to cope with the dearth of labour, but »it’s a slow process. A suggestion that thq Government should bring miners to New Zealand from Broken Hill, where a strike has been in progress for many months, was made in the House of Representatives this week by Mr H, E. Holland, member for Grey, The Dominion was suffering from a coal famine, and from a shortage of miners and general labourers, said Mr Holland. Would the Prime Minister favourably consider a proposal to bring 2,000 capable miners and labourers from Broken Hill, work and homes to be provided for them? These men would be available for public works, for the coal mines, and, if necessary, for the gold mines. If the Prime Minister was willing to consider the proposal an arrangement could be made quickly. It would be cheaper to bring immigrants from Australia than from Britain. Mr Massey replied that “he would be willing to receive a proposal and place it before Cabinet for consideration. Many of the details doubtless would require discussion and examination. Additional miners certainly were needed in New Zealand. A coal famine was tmusing suffering and hampering industry, and no means of increasing the output from the mines should be neglected.” There is no doubt that the Broken Hill miners would relieve the industrial situation, provided the Government was assured that all suspicion of Bolshevik leanings were removed.