TIGHTENING UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1931, Page 9

TIGHTENING UP.

CHECK TO IMMIGRATION. KEEPING OUT THE DESTITUTE CONTROL BY REGULATION. WIDE EXTENSION OF POWERS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The Prime Minister sprang a surprise on the House this afternoon by introducing and obtaining urgency for the passage of the Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill, which seeks to prevent the entry of destitute people into NewZealand during the present economic situation. The provisions of the bill were fully outlined by Mr. Forbes, who stated that the measure was along the lines of the Canadian immigration law. It had been introduced so that the Government would be able to control the entry of people who were in indigent circumstances. The Government wished to be able to prevent immigration, so that the difficulties of employment would not be added to. The bill gave authority to prohibit or restrict by Order-in-Council tl-e entry of certain classes of persons. It introduced a permit system, and there would be penalties for landing in breach of the Act. Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South): Does that mean that everyone coming into the country has to have a permit ? Mr. F. Waite (Ref., Clutha): It is to keep the Bolshies out. "More than that, thoiigh," said Mr. Howard, "it is to keep the capitalists out—Sir Otto Niemeyer and that sort." Mr. A. Harris (Ref., Wajtemata) asked if persons coming in would be required to have a certain amount of money in their possession.

Possession of Capital. Mr. Forbes replied that in addition to the restrictions imposed by the principal Act, the Governor-General, on account of iiy economic or financial conditions affecting trade and industry, or any 6tlier conditions which rendered it expedient so to do in the public interest, might make regulations prohibiting the landing of persons of specified nationality, race, class or occupation, or limit-' ing the nutiiber of such persons who might want to land. The regulations might also fix the amount of capital a.i immigrant might be required to have That was the object aimed at, so that persons coming into the D6minion would pot become a burden immediately on their arrival. ' m "Don't you think this is rather late?" Jisked Mr. W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central). Mr. Forbes: "No, I don't think so." New Zealand had its own problems to solve.in the matter of unemployment, and every other country had similar problems. But conditions in New Zealand might be the means of attracting people from outside. (Labour laughter.) "We don't want to allow the country to* be swamped by those coming in from abroad,'' he added; "it is only right that each country should shdulder its own burdens. Some people who had been brought into the country on the understanding that employment would be provided for them on their arrival came to the Government and said they had no work, and the result was the country was saddled with the responsibility- of finding work for them." He contended that the Government had a right to make such conditions as it thought fit in respect to people coming into the Dominion. By- the bill, masters and owners of ships were made responsible for the introduction of prohibited immigrants, and the fine for breaches of the Act was fied at £100.

Labour's Objection. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour party, said it would have been a fairer thing to have written into the legislation the terms and conditions on people would be allowed to come into New Zealand. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Reform,- Riccarton): More Order-in-Council. "Yes," said Mr. Holland, "and no one was more opposed to Government by Order-in-Council than the Prime Minister and. his colleagues when they were sitting on the Opposition benches." The Prime Minister claimed that it was necessary to stop people coming to New Zealand to enjoy the excellent conditions that prevailed under his Government, but he ventured to say that if Mr. Forbes sent the newspapers of the last iew days to Australia showing the experience of the women folk in Auckland and his own action in cutting off employment for 30,000 or 40,000 people, he would not need -any immigration restriction legislation. The people of Australia would keep away all right; If things did not improve, indeed, it would be like bygone days, under a Reform Administration, when people rushed out of New Zealand in' thousands. "There will be need to keep people in New Zealand rather than to keep them out," declared Mr. Holland. "Important Legislation." "If a bill of this kind is, necessary," continued Mr. Holland, /"surely the Prime Minister should write his definite policy into it. Otherwise the House will not know what the Government is going to do. The record of the Government since the Imperial Conference is sufficient to warrant us saying that we don't Want Government by regulation. We want Government by Statute law. We want the principles written in the' bill, and I hope that the House will insist on that being done." Mr. Holland asked if the bill was being introduced just as stop-gap until other legislation was ready. Mr. Forbes Oh, no'.. This is an important bill. Mr. Holland: Yes, and because it is important it should be specific. I want to know Avhat the objections are to putting into the bill the conditions on which people will be admitted into New Zealand. The Prime Minister speaks of certain classes of people, tut what classes of people does he want to prevent? It may be that he does not want any more travelling agents for ' British moneylenders coming here. It may be that he wants to keep out certain classes of working men. Mr. Kyle: Tourists. Mr. Holland: Yes, he may want to keep out certain classes of tourists. Mr. Waite: The ones from Moscow. •

Mr. Holland: The lion, gentleman no doubt wished, that he was in. Moscow when all those divisions were taking place on the Finance Bill the other night. He certainly wasn't recorded in the division lists. The Leader of the Labour party went on tc- say that he did not think there would be any division in the House as to the necessity of legislation that

would prevent the country from being flooded with people who would starve if they came here under the existing conditions. In the past the Labour party had pointed out the futility of the Reform Government's policy so far as immigration was concerned, but it was not listened to. Mr. D. Jones (Reform, Mid-Canter-bury) r Now you want to make us the Government. Mr. Holland: We don't want to commit any sin against the' Government. Tact. Required. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Reform, Dunedin West) said he agreed that in the main it was desirable that a Government's intentions should be specifically stated in a bill, but the question of immigration restriction was a peculiarly difficult problem. He could quite believe that it would be necessary for the Prime Minister to try a lot of expedients before he succeeded in laying down a restriction policy that would not be too harsh or prove offensive. When his Government endeavoured to restrict the entry of Asiatics into New.Zealand by requiring them to produce £500 they found that the provision was avoided. The whole matter was one of great difficulty and delicacy. For instance, in the 'eighties some 30,000 people left New Zealand for Australia, and it would be necessary to proceed tactfully to prevent bad feeling between the two countries now. Elasticity Essential. The Prime Minister said that it was necessary there ahould be a certain amount of elasticity in such a matter, as immigration restrictions might easily cause a good deal of friction. He thought the system that was proposed in the bill would prove more workable than if hard and fast proposals were laid down iu the bill. He knew of no cases in which the regulations had been improperly used in the past. Mr. Howard: We know of one or two. Mr. Forbes: I haven't come across it myself. He thought the House could trust the Government to see that the regulations were used fairly. The Reform View. The bill was read a first time and accorded urgency.

"It i« regrettable that this legislation lias to be introduced," said the Rt. Hon. J. G. G'Oates, Leader of the Opposition, who added that it was justified if the position were as' the Prime Minister had stated. However, more details were desirable, since the bill gave the Government power to lay down any regulations it thought fit. Mr. Coates asked whether a money basis would be provided for, and what would happen in the case of people visiting relatives. The Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Railways, quoted figures of arrivals and departures for the 12 months which ended in February, 1930, and February, 1931. lii the former period there had been 30,908 arrivals and 29,932 departures, and in the latter 28,986 arrivals and 24,248 departures. Those figures should show the need for prompt action, not only in the interests of the workers, but of those likely to come to New Zealand in the belief that they would get a better chance of employment. The House and the public would have access to any regulations issued through the publication of the "Gazette." The Minister added that the bill did not deal with assisted immigrants, and said he wag not in a position to indicate what was being done in that direction. At present assisted immigration to New Zealand was practically restricted to the allowing of members of separated families to be united. Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour, Auckland West) said the word "elasticity" applied to the censorship regulations, and no one knew the scope of them. Were the regulations dealing with immigration going to be made available or would they, be kept a secret in the hands of the Customs Department? The Prime Minister: They will be published. < Delayed Action.

Mr. Savage said there appeared to be some justification for the legislation, but the Government should be nio>"c specific in its intentions. In view of the unemployment figures, it looked as though the stable was being locked after the steed had been stolen.

Mr. G. C. Munns (United, Roskijl) said the manner in which the unemployment figures were rising forced the House to consider the problem. It was unfortunate that the position had arisen, as the country really needed population, but there were too many New Zealand people who needed work. He hoped the Flock House scheme would be applied to boys leaving school.

The second reading discussion lasted until 9.30 p.m., when the bill was put through the committee stages, read a third time, and passed. In the course of his general reply, Mr. Forbes said the Act would be administered with great discretion. The excess of arrivals from Australia in 1930 was 3090 and New Zealand would find great difficulty in absorbing that excess. A number of Austi-alians came regularly to New Zealand for shearing'and slaughtering work and they were needed. That was why the Act gave powers to define the classes. Any stipulation regarding, minimum, capital would riot be workable. It was intended to authorise the Government agents in Australia and the High Commissioner in London to issue permits. They would ascertain applicants' intentions in visiting New Zealand and determine, accordingly. He only favoured legislation of the kind in dire necessity and such a position had arisen.