ALIEN IMMIGRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 186, 6 August 1918, Page 4

ALIEN IMMIGRATION.

Returned soldiers, at a meeting of their Association last evening, criticised the statement accreditee to the Hon. G. W. Russell regarding immigration or aliens, and passed a resolution protesting strongly against the spirit thereof. The statement, the resolution alleges, was made by the Hon. G. W. Russell at a luncheon given by the Otago Expansion League regarding the importation of Norwegians, Danes, Russians, etc., into New Zealand. The resolution proceeds:—"We would call attention to the claims of those Britishers at present risking their lives and health on the various battlefronts, and would also suggest to Mr. Russell that, if he can foresee any means of employment for men, there are large numbers at present looking for such employment who have more than earned the right'by fighting for it, and that there are tens of thousands of New Zealanders yet to return who will keep Mr. Russell busy, if they are to be successfully repatriated, without spending his time championing the cause of foreigners." The Minister was reported to have said at a luncheon tendered to him on Saturday, July 27, by toe Otago Expansion League that he was not prepared to argue for a general immigration scheme but they must look to the Homeland, to Norway, and Denmark and Russia, and some other countries to send them men to dig and plough and do all the rest of the work that was to be done in the Dominion. He would be prepared to pay the passage of every rural worker, and the passage of his family as well. This was in the course of a speech urging the need for greater population.