MIGRATION DANGERS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 349, 31 July 1930, Page 1

MIGRATION DANGERS.

TO INSURANCE SCHEME.

Unemployment Question.

The Rev. G. H. Marr, of Putaruru,

drew the attention of the executive of the Matamata District Returned

Soldiers’ Association on Thursday to a possible danger to the country in that if the present unemployment proposals were carried, it might result in an influx of labour from other countries as a result of the attractiveness of the scheme. The speaker made it clear that he did not oppose the present proposals in any way, but that he had given the matter some thought, and being keenly interested in the subject it had struck him that if labour was attracted from other countries and no restrictions placed upon immigration it might defeat the objects in view. So far as he could see that was the only flaw in the proposals. The chairman asked if the speaker could frame a motion introducing returned soldiers into the subject. He was keenly desirous of keeping party politics out of all discussions, and did not want a precedent set. Rev. Marr agreed with this view, and stated he had no motion, but chiefly desired information. Mr. G. G. Bell urged that if the state of affairs visualised . came to pass it would certainly affect returned soldiers, as more immigration meant less work for all under present conditions.

Mr. Higgins statod that the doors of the country should not be barred. Immigration had made New Zealand and they needed more immgrants for the future.

Mr. Mclntyre warned the meeting of the delicacy of the question. One party favoured immigration and another tried to block it. Mr. Bell replied that if a national insurance scheme was adopted in which everyone was entitled to payment the country might he flooded.

Mr. Lochhead stated that Australia was the nearest country, and conditions there were very bad, and possibly there might be an influx of the wrong kind of immigrant. He felt the discussion was quite safe, as it was a question of national policy. It might be wise to prohibit immigration as a whole for a time. The chairman remarked that no Government . could prevent a man landing who paid his passage. He saw little danger as a man had to be out of work for two weeks before he received any benefit, and in the country three months before he was entitled to join up with the scheme, Mr. Mclntyre: I move the matter be held over until our next meeting. We shall then have full details of the Government measure. Mr. Lochhead pointed out that the Act might be passed by that time. The chairman stated he favoured Mr. Mclntyre’s suggestion, but did not desire to block discussion so long as the meeting kept clear of party politics. Mr. Rose; stated no man could be prevented from landing if he paid his passage, and he did not think there was any danger. There was no seconder to Mr. McIntyre’s motion, and Mr. Bell then moved that the association urge on the Government the necessity for considering the general question of immigration when finalising the unemployment proposals in order to safeguard the interests of the country’s own unemployed. Mr. Lochhead seconded the motion. Mr. Mclntyre urged that if relatively unimportant resolutions were sent forward it would militate against the association’s work. He urged that only sound constructive motions should be sent to the Government. One good resolution was better than many weak ones. The chairman agreed there was a danger of appearing ridiculous. He suggested the motion be incorporated in the previously agreed upon letter to the Minister. This view was adopted, and the motion was then carried unanimous-