IMMIGRATION

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24960, 22 August 1946, Page 6

IMMIGRATION

Sir, —What authority has your correspondent, R. Struan, for stating that Jewish immigrants “would be willing to live in tents and huts or camps” in New Zealand. I gather from press reports, which I presume are sometimes accurate, that the one desire of these unhappy, persecuted people is to reach Palestine; and they are being dictated to by experts at present. That pregnant women among them are being “detained” is to me particularly vile. Hitler is dead! Long live Hitler!— Yours, etc., (Mrs) M. MARSHALL. August 20, 1946.

Sir, —Several years overseas have convinced me that New Zealand is indeed a favoured country* and I firinly believe that our way of life and the character of our people compare more than favourably with other countries. Thousands, descendants of the early hard-working settlers, died to preserve this way of life and to make New Zealand safe for their children —children they were not able to have! R. Struan is urged to consider this and the follov - ing points: (1) Our living standards must be maintained and New Zealandborn children can best do this. (2) A large population is not necessarily desirable. (Professor Joad.) (3) Atomic bombs make nonsense of the theory that a large population is essential for defence. (4) European Jews, by virtue of their religion, language, and trading instincts, are not easily assimilated. (5) Housing difficulties: sub-standard housing should not be allowed. Hasty, unselective immigration would in my opinion be most ill-advised.—Yours, NEW ZEALANDER. August 20, 1946.