NEW ZEALAND NEEDS IMMIGRATION POLICY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1944, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEEDS IMMIGRATION POLICY

FUTURE OBSCURE

Keen British Interest In Post-War Settlement

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON. Mar. 7. Do the people of the United Kingdom wish to emigrate after the war? If so, what kind, how many and where would they like to go? So far three New Zealand editors visiting Britain know no official agency, whether British or Dominion, which has endeavoured to ascertain answers to these questions, although one, the Ontario Government, is preparing so to do. Meanwhile, a widely circulating weekly, The Empire News, has opened an Empire inquiry bureau which undertakes to answer readers' questions insofar as they are answerable under to-day's conditions. From thousands of inquiries received, the following tentative conclusions may be drawn: — (1) Even though the German war has not ended, the thoughts of some young, vigorous and enterprising people are turning increasingly to the questions of their future. (2) Some of them are resolved to emigrate others think of doing so if the prospects appear favourable. They are thirsting for information about the attitude of one or more of the Dominions towards migration, about general conditions of living, and about their prospects in particular occupations in which they are skilled.

Canada Most Preferred

(3) Canada is the Dominion most preferred, mainly because of its relative nearness, and also because more seems to be known about it than the other Dominions. A factor in this regard is the influence of the large number of British airmen who received training in Canada. The justice of the policy of all Dominions in making rehabilitation of their own servicemen the first concern is acknowledged, but there is naturally a disposition to wonder when Dominion Governments will feel themselves free to encourage migration. It appears likely that the Dominion which is the first to make up its mind will gain an advantage, and if the experience of early arrivals is favourable this advantage may be cumulative. The announced intentions of the Ontario Government concerning immigration are of interest and importance to New Zealand. The Provincial Government recently secured the release from Army service of Major J. S. P. Armstrong, who has been appointed Agent-General in London. Ontario House is to be reopened after ten years and plans are being laid for assisted migration.

Ontario Scheme

The Agent-General has said that the old idea of letting settlers fend for themselves has been abandoned. After selection, suitable immigrants will be placed in employment or on prepared farms. Facilities will also be offered to British industries to establish complete satellite factories in Ontario, perhaps with technical staffs.

The first place in Ontario settlement plans will be given to Canadian forces, then R.A.F.- personnel trained in Canada, next general British forces and then British skilled craftsmen.

The special difficulties of New Zealand and Australia in formulating immigration plans are not widely understood. It has to be pointed out to the average interested Englishman for instance, that a continuance of the Pacific war after the end of the German war will make the date of demobilisation of New Zealand servicemen quite uncertain, also that no plans can operate without shipping and the availability of shipping will be influenced by the course and duration of the Pacific war.

New Zealand Lags Behind

The only general conclusion that can be drawn at present is that, as early as possible, the policy of New Zealand concerning migration should be determined and widely publicised in the United Kingdom.

The continued lack of information concerning the policy will inevitably encourage the belief that migrants are not wanted or that they are. unlikely to be wanted for a long time. This would cause the people who now hope to go to New Zealand to turn their attention to some other Dominion which has a positive policy.