ACTION, NOT WORDS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 281, 26 November 1919, Page 6

ACTION, NOT WORDS.

When Mr. .Massey touches on immigration, he is like the gentleman in Dickene who instead of joining quickly in a fight, took off hie coat with great deliberation, and announced loudly that he was about to begin. There U this important difference, however, that Mr. Massey has not yet got even as far as his shirt-sleeves. He repeatedly tells us that he is for a vigorous immigration policy, but where are the immigrants, and when are they coming, and what are they going to do when they arrive? His reference to the subject at Temuka last night was typical. "We have got to face"—you would think it wae an enemy or a terribly difficult or complicated probjlem that .was concerned—' "the bringing to this country of suitable immigrants, men and women." Of course we have, but the sooner Mr. Massey gives up talking about "facing" such an obvious and agreeable duty the better. He went on to say that we should not introduce "the wastrel, the imbecile, or the disloyalist," but that British citizens would be welcomed to this country for the help they could give us in carrying our war burdens, and for the betterment of their own position. All this, with the exception of the word "face," ie unimpeachable sentiment, but when is something going to be done? Talking will not bring people to Xew Zealand, or give them the opportunities in whicn this young undeveloped country should be. so rich. Speeches in Temuka, Whangainomona, or Taringumotu will not persuade the Scottish crofter, the Midland: farm labourer, or the 'Birmingham artisan, that Xew 'Zealand ie a better place for the emigrant than Canada. These men will want to know whatlXew Zealand offers—what employment awaits them, and what land they can. get, tout at present the New Zealand Government can give such applicants no :?atisfaction. It is co busy absorbing soldier settlers —moat of whom would have gone on the land had there been no war — that it cannot attend to immigrants. So long as this state of things continues, what is the good of Mr Massey trying to conceal his lack of policy in a rush of words?