MIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 435, 17 May 1937, Page 6

MIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND

DO BRITISH PEOPLE WANT TO COME Not Just A Matter Of Reopening Doors “The people in general in Great Britain, of ail classes, have no desire to move overseas or even -to contemplate it, so that it is far, from being a matter of just reopening the doors, fior migration to New Zealand. Butt it is clear .that an irresistible force cannot be stopped. If it is not to be British stock coming to this country, it will be other stock, not necessarily European, and that very soon," This comment on the possibility Of fostering Interest in migration to the Dominion was made a.t the recent annual meeting in Wellington of tire New Zealand Association of the Pub. lie Schools of Great Britain by the honorary secretary of the association, Major R. H. Howell.

“The point about immigration which appears to be genera Hy missed, but which has loffg been ilisccvCred by our association, is that people in general of all sorts have no desire to move overseas or even to contemplate' it,” Major Howard said. “Our association has realised this from two extensive missions to Great Britain, and: has been advised of this feeling by its own committee ill England, which has been in existence for the last eight years. The reasons appea- :o be, from first-hand inquiry, at least four. There is, for instance, a definite decline m what may still be termed, the pioneering spirit. Then there is ihe very bad impression broadcast by ‘return, er failures.’ There are thousands of these from other Dominions and hundreds from New Zealand. These people are listened to and make themselves heard far more effectively than any attracti/e propaganda. Whether their failure was their own fault or Whether they Wet|e Misled is immaterial. The result is the same. The world depression, too, was a check to immigration, and there are other reasons', .New Zealand’s advanced social legislation is a possible deterrent, to those with independent, means or those with the ambition to. win independence. Events will, it is hoped, prove that this fear is without justification.” Benefits in England. Major Howell observed that the unemployment benefits in England were sufiiciont to 1-eop older people from Die necessity of leaving fainil. iar surrouti'it-igs for the experi'neni of anigratibn,' arid thnt. the younger people could find hmploymbrit in '.he new industries springing up in the south Of England.. Wliatbver the reasons might be, it had to be recognised that people in Great Britain seemed to be averse to immigration and were not waiting expectantly for the chance io move to. ether countries.

The association had an entirely voluntary organisation in New Zealand which could, within limits, deal with the important after-care and safe., guarding Of financially indlapepdientt people coming' .to the Dominion tihrough the associalion’s agents in London. A few of this'.class were 'still coming to the country, and the Stream had not dried up like all the streams of assisted immigrants.' Members of .the association had been in touch with 500 public schoolboys who had come to b/ew Zealand with the assistance of the Government, and twice it had sent missions lo visit its own sources—-the public schools of Great Britain. “However, our association, as far as it is concerned with immigration, is only a supplementary machine awaiting the evolution of a main machine, the old one having broken down past repair,” lie addte/d. “A new main engine is a. desperately urgent. need. Isolation and insularity in both liemitpheres will never pro. din e one. Internal domestic arrangemepts in the crowded island of Britain uud Ihe empty islands of New Zi'Uliind are of no consequence until thill nugine is made. Defence and. 'trndo oun never be sure, until our poHsmsion of so rich a heritage is jiisl idl’d by occupation in a real eetiHe.’’