IMMIGRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1919, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

REQUIRED TO DEVELOP THE COUNTRY.

Wellington, August States the Industries Committee in their report to Parliament:— The fact that the virile manhood of this country has I wen sadly depleted in the- great war is sufficient warrant for giving consideration to the question whether or not the Government should reinstate the- policy of assisted immigration. If post-war problems are to be satisfactorily solved there must be ii vigorous policy of development and sufficient labor will not be available even after all the soldiers return. Large numbers of ablebodied workers are required for tli' expeditious prosecution of hydro-electric, ■railway, roading, irrigation, and other schemes. If labor for this purpose is to be supplemented from abroad it must be from the United Kingdom. It is likely that the migratory spirit will be strong among the soldiers,, many of whom arc- known to be contemplating emigrating to the overseas Dominions. These men would constitute the most virile of the population and would be of special value for developmental works. ■ The committee do not recommend a policy of indiscriminate assisted immigration or the adoption of any course calculated to produce a surplus of any class of labor leading to unemployment or reduction of wages. What is specially wanted at this juncture is sufficient labor to carry out the developmental work. There need be no apprehension as to disorganisation of the labor market on the completion of such undertakings, for the works could not be all completed at the same time, and if a forward policy were put into operation the work upon which the labor would be employed would itself open up many new avenues of employment. New railways will mean additional land settlement. Hydro-electric schemes will develop adjustments that should materially assist in the same direction. These rimigs mean increased production with increased prosperity and opportunity for employment.

The .committee therefore recommend that having ascertained as far as can be done what is the probable shortage of labor fpr carrying on our developmental operations, every effort be made to attract and assist to come to this country a sufficient number of suitable persons who will be available for work upon these operations. To achieve this end, it is necessary to send two competent men to select and arrange for such suitable immigrants as may be determined u»on.

The committee also recommend, in view of the undoubted difficulty in securing domestic help, that a similar course lie adopted in connection with the immigration of a suitable class of women, under the superintendence of two or more capable women.

The recommendation made on tils .question is subject to the strictest test which will ensure that the persons assisted arc physically, mentally, and morally desirable. The committee strongly support any course that may be necessary (1J to exclude undesirables, whatever their country of origin, aiul (2) to preserve the purity of the race.