REFUGEE PROBLEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1939, Page 7

REFUGEE PROBLEM

ADVOCACY OF ACTION BY NEW ZEALAND. ADDRESS BY MR P N. HOLLOWAY An address on the refugee problem was given recently by Mr P. N. Holloway, of the Wellington Refugee Emergency Committee, who served for a time on the Co-Ordinating Committee for European Refugees, Bloomsbury House, London. The meeting was held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, under the auspices of the Masterton branch of the Peace Pledge Union. There had been two million refugees from Europe, Mr Holloway stated, and the number was daily growing. Of the number mentioned 600,000 were Jews, 600,000 non-Aryans, and about three-quarters of a million Protestants or Roman Catholics., Jewish refugees, he went on to observe, had been well assisted by their fellow Jews, but until recently the Christian

refugees had received very little assistance from their fellow Christians. After describing the dire need of the refugees—it being in many instances a case of life or death —Mr Holloway stated that it shamed him that New Zealand was so apathetic regarding the matter as the country was so well suited to admit refugees. It was probable that 80.000 refugees had applied for admission to this country, but only about 450 had been admitted. The British Empire, embracing one quarter of the earth, had a grave responsibility to act quickly and generously, Mr Holloway continued. New Zealand was admirably suited for taking refugees as she was extremely under-populated, with undoubted resources for development. It was our duty to develop the country we lived in, and we especially need to develop our secondary industries. The tendency today, he said, was to take the factories to the raw materials, the United States providing some good examples of this tendency. British industrialists did not want to migrate to New Zealand and the British Government did not wish them to. as Britain herself was faced with a declining birth rate and declining population and was anxious to retain her leaders of industry. The European refugees were particularly suited to assist us in the improvement of our secondary industries. There were practically no unskilled men among the refugees. Refugee immigration would not increase unemployment, but directly and indirectly would provide more employment. Britain had realised since the Great War that the Dominions were under-populated and had urged them to adopt sound immigration policies. Lord Bledisloe and others also had urged an increase in the nation’s population. Mr Holloway went on to explain how British countries and British stocks had greatly benefited by past migrations of religious and other refugees. The present circumstances, he said, provide a golden opportunity for New Zealand especially to help herself by helping others. New Zealand also needed cultural development, in music, art. etc., and many Austrian and German refugees should be welcomed for the contribution they would make in this respect alone.

Mi - Holloway remarked that most people were sympathetic once they understood the refugee problem and he hoped that public opinion would soon encourage the Government te adopt a generous refugee policy. In addition to helping to form public opinion and dispelling the Government's apathy, individuals could help in other ways, such as giving financial assistance, adopting children, giving language assistance, acting as guarantors, teaching newcomers out customs, etc. After the meeting had passed a resolution urging the Government to adopt a vigorous refugee relief policy. Mr E. Esler moved a vote of thanks to Mr Holloway which was carried heartily,