MIGRATION INTO DOMINION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22376, 13 April 1938, Page 11

MIGRATION INTO DOMINION

BRITAIN’S WILLINGNESS TO CO-OPERATE

ASSURANCE GIVEN BY SIR GEOFFREY WHISKARD (THE PRESS Special Service.! AUCKLAND, April I*. The readiness of Great Britain to co-operate with the Dominions in restarting Empire migration was mdicated by Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia, who arrived on a holiday visit to New Zealand by the Awatea. Even although the population of Great Britain might become stationary, it might be felt in England that there was still room for a redistribution of the white population within .the Empire. The British Government would be equally prepared to co-operate with New Zealand, just as it was already co-operating with Australia, Sir Geoffrey Whiskard said. In the present circumstances, however, immigration could not be of the same dimensions as it was between 10 and 15 years, ago. Furthermore, some of the particular forms of assisted migration whicl> were then adopted would not be suitable to-day. There had recently been an agreement between Australia and Britain under which assisted passages were to be granted to migrants of specific categories. If, and only if, the New Zealand Government desired to enter into a similar agreement, the British Government would be quite willing to do so. The old jealousy about the growth of secondary industries in the Dominion was not very evident in England to-day, said Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, in discussing Empire trade. Any move of a sectional, and probably unrepresentative, interest in England, such as the boot operatives who recently threatened to boycott New Zealand goods because of the protection afforded by New Zealand to her own industries, would be met, he thought, by sharp condemnation, not only by the British Government, but also by the industries concerned and the general public. The British market for Dominion goods would continue to grow, although at a slow rate.

Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, who is accompanied by his daughter. Miss Mary Whiskard, will make a brief stay in New Zealand before going to England to, spend several months’ leave.