DESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 87, 29 August 1912, Page 5

DESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.

THE PRIME MINISTER'S VIEWS. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The subject of immigration is one of the most important than can be considered by Parliament, said the Prime Minister in the House this afternoon. The matter, lie went on to say, was already under consideration. He was convinced that if we were to obtain a fair proportion of farm laborers it would be necessary to reduce the fares required from them. Canada and Australia came into strong competition with New: Zealand in that respect. Canada carried such men practically for nothing, and Australia did not charge such high fares as New Zealand, and New Zealand could not expect to increase the number of such immigrants unless it reduced the rateß. He was informed by people who had recently visited Great Britain that there were a large number in England, Ireland, and Scotland who were suitable for our purpose, hut up to the present the inducements held out had not been sufficient to attract them to our shores. They had to bring them to New Zealand on reasonable terms and prove to them that they could improve their conditions. A great deal more tlian had been done in the past had to be done. In this connection we must have more population and of the right class. They *id not expect farm laborers to remain farm laborers all their lives. They wanted men who would not be content to remain farm laborers, but would look forward to becoming occupiers of the land. The Government was going to encourage the immigration of that class.