TOPICS OF THE DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20733, 17 February 1939, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Reception of Refugees

‘ “In considering the advisability of admitting large numbers of aliens into Britain, it is necessary to bear the relevant figures in mind,” writes Mr Frank Singleton, in the Spectator. “They show that the numbers are actually very small. In the normal way many foreigners visit Britain on pleasure or business, generally for short periods. In 1037, for instance, 535,000 aliens entered the -United Kingdom and 524,000 went out. AYhen an alien is here for more than a certain length of time he is asked to register with the police. There are still fewer than 200,000 aliens registered with the police. In 1930 there were 186,000, in 1937 193,000, in 1938 196,000. These figures should alone suffice to check any talk of the country being ‘flooded with aliens.’ On the question of unemployment, the Home Secretary stated in the House on November 21 that, whilst as a sequel to recent events in Europe 11,000 German refugees had been settled in Britain, 15,000 British workmen had been given employment as a direct result. It is misleading to jump to the conclusion that because a foreigner is working a British workman has therefore been displaced. Britain has, on the contrary, definitely benefited from admitting aliens.”