HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1920, Page 5

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE

IMMIGRATION POLICY. REMARKS BY THE PREMIER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Jan. 17. Referring to-day to the published «!• ticisms of the High Commissioner's office staff, Mr. Massey remarked: "It can be improved. I think it is necessary to •■ keep the High office in touch with the Dominion." Replying to a request for an outline of his immigration policy, Mr Massey said: "Here is the position we are in so far. It was our duty in the first place to get the soldiers back. We have got them nearly all here now. There are a few men still to come, but not a great many. After that we shall take in hand the getting back to New Zealand of the vury large number of New Zealanden ■ who went over to do other war service. I do not think there are less than 8000 of them now. Next to them, we take immigrants from England, and we have 2400 immigrants ready and waiting for a ship, with all arrangements made and passages paid, and I believe they will be a particularly good lot. Many of them are nominated by people in this eouatry and are relatives of New Zealanders, ';. They are mostly country people, but are representatives of all classes, and some are domestic servants. That i> the beginning."