Alien Menace To Serving Digger

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 205, 30 August 1941, Page 14

Alien Menace To Serving Digger

MAY I be allowed to congratulate the Dominion executive of the R.S.A. regarding the resolution recently passed concerning the influx of aliens, enemy or otherwise, into our businesses and professions, writes S.A.M. How greatly immigration into New Zealand has increased is shown by the latest return issued by the Census and Statistics Department. For the year ending March 31, 1940. the number of German immigrants intending permanent residence was 423, which was 12 times the average for the five years 193:;1938. There has been a considerable increase in the number of Chinese immigrants, the figure last year being 680. or no less than 17 times the previous five-year average. Czech and Hungarian arrivals, both with a previous average of one yearly, increased to 102 and 45 persons respectively. The Inilk of the Chinese arrivals entered the retail fruit trade and here in Auckland alone the number of Chinese' fruit shops has increased by 30 since the outbreak of war and, strangely enough, in spite of petrol restrictions, there has been a considerable increase in the numbers of Chinese fruit hawkers.

Po sit ion Of Small Shopkeepers It is a remarkable fact that while the Government has promoted legislation to ensure that the returned soldier be reinstated in employment on his return, it has completely overlooked the position of the small shop- ■ keeper, who may be called for service. The ownership of small businesses is. under proper conditions, an eminently suitable occupation for slightly disabled returned men. but with alien competitors established in their absence, who are prepared to live under lower standards, defy our labour laws and work ineredi- ■ blv long hours, their chances of suc- • cess would be negligible. The admission of these refugees into New Zealand during the war period constitutes a grave breach of lnith. for the difficulties confronting the rehabilitation of our returned men can only be intensified by the admission of these greatlv increased 1 numbers of aliens. I trust, in com--1 mon with many more returned men • that complete success will reward the R.S.A.'s efforts in this direction. In conclusion I would add that I . am meeting such intensified alien competition, but in spire of more than four years' active service on the Western Front 1 am still liable for ; conscription to-day. and I wonder , what my position will be if I am called for service?