CANADIAN IMMIGRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1931, Page 6

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION.

MINISTER'S EXPLANATION,

- BRITISH TRADITIONS VALUED.

(From Our Own Correspondent) VANCOUVER, December S

Matters affecting immigration were the theme of an address in Vancouver by Hon. W. A. Gordon, Minister of Immigration. i At the!; outset he emphasised his devotion to British traditions.' "Canada must be preserved as a Canadian-British Christian country," he saiu. "That must be a governing consideration in matters affecting our population. . "We are all eons of Canada. ' Many of those who have come from other lands have in a short time contributed greatly to our national life." He, expressed his welcome to these strangers, but in selecting futuro citizens, said the country could not be too severe. "That selecticsi must be made before they leave their homes," he insisted, "because if misrepresentation is made an injustice is committed to these newcomers. "There is a more serious phase. We have a perpetual colonisation problem in bringing in people who do not find what they expect and become dissatisfied. This is unfair to our own people." Mi\ Gordon said he was prepared to take the responsibility for acts for which he had been criticised. "I am determined to keep this, country clean," he said. "People coming here must -bo prepared to submit to our laws designed to protect the standard of our citizenship." In the past 10 months Canada had. encouraged 250,000 people to entey Canada.. In the four months preceding July 31 last—when everybody knew Canada could not absorb and colonise newcomers—she invited or assisted t<s bring into Canada 58,000 people. That was undiciplined and uncontrolled immigration. So long as he was in control that would not occur in the future. Primarily newcomers who were British people and understood British laws and customs would be invited. Movements uf population between Canada and' the United States seemed like no immigration at all, but he rejoiced in the steady repatriation of Canadians from the south, now that Canada was recovering from the world-wide depression. While he welcomed adventurous souls from other lands, he insisted they must recognise they were coming into a British country and had joined a people immensely proud of their institutions.