MORE PEOPLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1938, Page 5

MORE PEOPLE

NEW ZEALAND’S NEED. IMMIGRATION ADVOCATED. A request for a Royal Commission to investigate the social and economic problems that are imminent as the result of the decline in the birth rate, and to report further as to the desirability of a considered immigration policy, forms the subject of a remit of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, adopted for submission to the 1938 conference of the Associated Chambers. The president, Mr A. Ely, read a letter from the Dargaville chamber, enclosing a copy of a resolution sent to the Prime Minister. The resolution was that the chamber should bring to the notice of the Government the suitability of Dalmatians as settlers for North Auckland, in view of the large tracts of country available, requesting that emigrants from that country be encouraged by the lifting of the restrictions at present existing. The Auckland chamber’s support of the resolution was asked and this was agreed to.

Mr G. Jackson said he agreed with the Dargaville resolution. The Dalmatian immigrants in the past had proved to be a fine type of people, hard working and capable of developing the land on which they were placed. Many had become highly prosperous farmers. “The Dalmatians have proved excellent citizens, but there is another class anxious to come to New Zealand,” said Mr L. D. Nathan. “These are Austrian and German Jews, who, I feel, would become fine immigrants. I know there are a great many of good type, skilled craftsmen and tradesmen, and I think that if we are going to specify one class we can consider adding to it.” Mr Jackson said that while on a recent trip to Europe he had met many people in Germany, a fine type of citizen, who through no fault of their own found living in that country impossible. He considered that a little further immigration of Jews would benefit New Zealand. 1 Mr Ely' did not consider that these views should be embodied in the remit, which as it stood would enable all matters along the lines of the discussion to be brought forward at the conference.