A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10413, 6 September 1911, Page 5

A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.

CONCERNING IMMIGRATION. SIR JOSEPH WARD EXPLAINS. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Nigjhit. The Prim© Minister was asked question® in the House of Repiresentatives this afternoon by Messrs Wri#t- and Russell, concerning an article in.the "Dominion" newspaper;; quoting'a- sba^enieriitpublished! in' London, and said•'•'to\ have beeairaissnied, by the High to ,tbe effect. that there is > a general .scarcity of labour in the Boirdnioni; that diomesitio servants are as difficult to procure /as nuggets of gold; that Hike Dominion require® to import api /prentices, pjloughmen, and capable farm hiands' anxious to beconte settilieTis, and that we needed another mdl Mom people in thle cities and two malfronis on the land, whom we would welcome, and who, if here tomorrow, would all find ampd© work and employment. Sir Joseph Ward ,said he had brought' the matter of immigiraltion up at the Imperial Conference. Labour exchange and immigration, was a very : difficult matter to deal with |at osrtain times of the year. The system of immigration' employed by the High Comimissaoner was* stoppled for the time being, so as not to bring people here during the winter months'. They were getting as many peop!!© im New Zealand for the purpose, named a.s was . niecS'Fra'ry. The Bis,sisted immigrants for 1910 totaled 2187, and for six months of- this year tlbie number was 1105. The Govem-ment-had not ohanged its policy concerning' immigration, and no inistru'dtion® had been given: to alter the system now obtaining. There must be fhitne, mistaibe or misapprehension in the statement attributed to the High Co-mimrisisioner. Sir Wiliam HaHJjonies cowld' never have said such a thing. 3 "'