WAITING IN VAIN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12606, 17 November 1926, Page 6

WAITING IN VAIN

LAND SETTLEMENT CRITICISED THE CHURCH AND IMMIGRANTS. At the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday were discussed the part played by the church in immigration affairs, and the necessity for improving the ever-present problems of immigration, The Rev. R. Inglis, convener of the Immigration Committee, said that immigration was part of the life and work of the church. Last year 10,065 immigrants arrived in the* Dominion, and of them 340 were received as communicant member? of the church. That was not a large percentage, and they had no reuson to flatter theniselyes on the results of their vvork. He recopipiended that the whole matter should be considered Ijy the various Presbyteries with a view -to placing the organisation on a better footing. One method by which the' system might be improved would bo the appointment of paid organisers at Wellington and Auckland, the tjrd principal porta of disembarkation. This would ensure that immigrants would be met and cordially vvelcomed. The Rev. J. Mi Harvey (Auckland) also spoke of the need of a better system- "What is wanted,” he said, “is some better scheme of land settlement. We are waiting for the Government to apt, but we are waiting in vain, and are likely to wait iic vain so long as the present Government is in force.”