LIMITING IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 5

LIMITING IMMIGRANTS.

NEW ZEALAND BACKWARD.

ADDITIONS TO WORKLESS.

■ I WORLD EXAMPLE IGNORED. j

(By D.C'.S.T.) When practically every country in the world is becoming dubious concerning immigration, and many are raising barriers against arrivals who probably would become liabilities of -the State, it is obviously a necessity forsNew Zea.- j land to fall in line. Realisation of this important principle is all the more apparent now that the registrations under the requirements of the unemployment levy have reached unexpectedly large numbers. While it is admitted that enforced registration has been responsible for the recording of many workless who previously were unwilling to appear on the official lists, it is equally true that a percentage of the increaose has been due to the considerable influx of unemployed from other countries. Australia is a case in point. Rigorous taxation measures in the Commonwealth and the undoubted stringency of the economic position; particularly in New South Wales, have had the cot unexjiected consequence of turning numbers of Australians to this country. There are specific cases of almost destitute persons arriving at the major ports of New Zealand with utterly no prospects, apart from a measure of sustenance from the unemployment levy, which, of course, has been designed for the purpose of • alleviating distress among unemployed New Zealanders. Specific Instances. ' There was one flagrant instance only a week or so ago. Two young men reached Auckland from Sydney with only four-pence-halfpenny between them —and, even then, their passage had been paid from New Zealand; It cannot be said that there is an impresison in Australia that New Zealand is not suffering from the effects of world-wide depression. Another case was noted when numbers of Australians and New Zealanders we-ra refused permission to stay in Canada recently, and were deported from Vancouver by the Niagara. One young Australian preferred not to return to Sydney. He landed at Auckland. and, on the same day, secured a lucrative position as a salesman. These are only a few cases which indicate the seriousness of unrestricted immigration when New Zealand has to solve its growing problem of unemploy-' ment. The United -States, which in recent years has encouraged considerable immigration, has now been compelled to adopt restrictive measures because its unemployed are numbered officially in millions; Canada presents a stern front to immigrants who have little finance; and South Africa, generally regarded as a comparatively prosperous country, now requires a bond of £100 or documentary evidence of a position awaiting a new arrival before an immigrant is allowed entry. Lesson For Dominion. This unmistakable trend in immigration contains a lesson for New' Zealand, which is certain to suffer while it permits the arrival of newcomers without- prospects. It simply means that unfinancial immigrants will be dependent on the unemployment fund at the expense of New Zealand men, many of whom are themselves unemployed. Among the unemployed of New Zealand, a disquieting feature is the number of skilled and professional men who arc without work. This is evident iif Auckland, where many young men with professional training are eking uncertain livings from oppbrtunities of the moment. The}' are onh- too eager to earn a few shillings. There is one young man, who had a successful career at the University, who sold oysters in hotel bars during the oyster season. Others undertake labouring and farming work in the province at the merest pittance; inevitably, they reappear in the city, with the lean consolation that they are "more likely to hear of developments" if they keep nearer the heart of business. It is one of the tragedies under which a young Dominion is labouring. In itself, the problem of these young men would be a' serious economic problem. But there is one aspect New Zealand should attend to immediately. It is the necessity of protection for New Zealanders by >rigidly limiting immigration, and especially banning destitute persons, who, as the position stands, cannot be blamed for seizing any opportunity to enter the Dominion.