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Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1938. REFUGEES AS IMMIGRANTS.

the New York “Evening Post” lias suggested, New Zealand might do worse than offer a' home and citizenship to some of the refugees from European dictatorships. It is the simple truth, as the American newspaper observed, that some of the best minds and finest spirits from Germany, Austria and Italy are in exile. There are also commonplace but arresting facts which strengthen the claim of these unfortunate people to consideration. There is, of course, no question of inviting indiscriminate entry into the Dominion by European exiles, and difficulties might arise, as they have to some extent in the United Kingdom, over the admission of any considerable number of foreigners desiring to pursue the learned professions. Wide reaches of economic activity remain to be opened up in this country, however, in which a proportion at least of the European exiles now seeking homes might apply themselves with profit to themselves and to the country of their adoption.

A considerable-proportion of the victims of Nazi and Fascist- tyranny are Jews and it was mentioned in a cablegram from Melbourne the other day that the possibility of establishing extensive secondary industries in Australia and New Zealand with Jewish brains, Jewish capital, and Jewish labour, had been discussed by Mr Hans Klein, a representative of societies which are dealing, under the auspices of the League of Nations, with problems of Jewish emigration and colonisation.

Mr Klein is to investigate in Australia the question of establishing, without competing with existing factories, large-scale factories and plants directed and staffed by Jews.' An investigation on similar lines undertaken in this country might reasonably be welcomed.

Industrial enterprises established in New Zealand by Jewish or other European immigrants of course would have to observe current wage and other standards and to conform in all respects to the laws of the Dominion. There can be no question of allowing labour or living standards to be lowered in order to secure the establishment of new industries, but it is improbable that any danger of this kind need be feared. Apart from the fact that not all the European exiles now seeking new homes are Jews, there is no excuse in these days for regarding the Jew as incapable of practical and constructive enterprise of the worthiest kind. In the troubled land of Palestine, though not there only, the Jew is giving proof today of his ability, not only to grapple with and solve the scientific and technical problems- raised in land and other industries,-but to engage with resolution and success in arduous manual labour.

The whole question of the admission of European immigrants to the Dominions with a view to the expansion of industries invites examination. Plainly it is a question that well deserves practical consideration in New Zealand and in other parts of the Empire. Public opinion in this country might be decidedly opposed to the establishment of factories to be manned solely by foreigners, under such plans as Mr Klein if? reported to have outlined in Australia, but that does not exhaust possibilities.

Most people are agreed nowadays that planned immigration, which will broaden and enlarge the field of productive employment, instead of accentuating problems of unemployment, is wholly desirable. From that standpoint and others, the question of’admitting European exiles in conditions acceptable and advantageous to themselves and to this country certainly is worth examining in detail. It is clear that if a mutually satisfactory adjustment can be attained, the Dominion may gain substantially in the broadening of its productive activities and enlargement of the volume of its internal exchange of goods and services'. At the same time, it is in keeping with what is best in our history and traditions that homes and citizenship in New Zealand should be offered to some of those who have been cast out of countries in which freedom and social justice have meantime been trampled under foot.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19380730.2.17

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1938, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
655

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1938. REFUGEES AS IMMIGRANTS. Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1938. REFUGEES AS IMMIGRANTS. Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1938, Page 4

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