IMMIGRATION QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20738, 23 February 1939, Page 11

IMMIGRATION QUESTION

NEED FOR TRADESMEN - DISCUSSION BY BUILDERS The question of immigration came in for consideration at the annual conference of the New Zealand Federated Builders and Contractors’ Association yesterday afternoon when a remit, touching on the matter was received from Canterbury. The remit was to the effect that the conference should urge the Government to expedite the immigration of Jeiwsh refugees who were tradesmen. In presenting the remit to the conference, Mr W. P. Glue (Canterbury) stated that the necessity of bringing good tradesmen to the country was obvious. Recently in Canterbury an employer wished to engage a Jewish tiler who was a good man at his trade, but on making enquiries he found that he had to give an undertaking to the Minister of Customs that no other men were available, that the work was urgent and that the Jew would not stay in the country for more than six months. After all, the Jews were human beings, said the speaker, and they were not merely tourists. They were tradesmen who wanted an opportunity to re-estahlish themselves. It was suggested by another speaker that the remit should not be confined to Jews and Mr A. Fletcher (Wellington) moved an amendment that the Government should be asked to expedite the immigration of building tradesmen from European countries. A further amendment, to the effect that the Government should be asked not to embarrass any tradesmen coming to the country by imposing time limits was put forward by Mr W. B. Young Hamilton;, wbo expressed llie opinion that it would not be wise !o actually ask for the introduction ot more tradesmen. At present the building trade was very busy but there might- come a lime when the industry was slack and I hen the tradesmen might be thrown out of employment. On being put to the meeting Mr Youngs amendment was carried.