Must Prepare the Way First

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 5

Must Prepare the Way First

Prime Minister and Immigration

DOMINION MUST BE MADE PROSPEROUS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. “I would say the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, is just about right in saying New Zealand is not yet ready to welcome assisted migrants," said the Prime Minister, commenting on the cabled report of Mr. MacDonald's speech to that effect on the Empire Settlement Bill in the House of Com-

“We must first prepare the way for immigrants," continued Mr. Savage. “There is a lot of shaping to be done before we can bring additional people into New Zealand. The Government has always said its job is to prepare the way for successful migration to New 7 Zealand. It would be unpardonably foolish to bring thousands of migrants to this Dominion if we are not in a position to guarantee them a means of livelihood. Work must first be available for all. The real and secret success in immigration is to make tho country so prosperous that the people want to come to it in order to share in its prosperity. When conditions are right in New Zealand, people will not hesitate to come and bring new capital with them whether the sum be large or small. “What’s the use of putting money on the estimates every year to bring assisted migrants here if we have not provided facilities for them to earn a living in reasonably comfortable conditions. We must look at the problem from the common sense point of view. “Meanwhile the policy and task of this Government is to make New Zealand prosperous enough and solid enough to attract migrants."