IMMIGRATION TO N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25272, 26 August 1947, Page 6

IMMIGRATION TO N.Z.

CONFERENCE HELD YESTERDAY

COMMITTEE FOR SOUTH ISLAND SUGGESTED

More than 50 organisations, including many local bodies, were represented at a meeting called yesterday by the expansion and development committee of the Christchurch City Council to discuss immigration. Four Canterbury members of Parliament—Miss M. B. Howard. Mr W. H. Gillespie, Mr J. Mathison, and Mr R. M. Mactariane, were also present The Mayor, Mr E. H. Andrews, presided.

In opening the meeting, Mr Andrews said that from 1871 until 1944, assisted immigrants to New Zealand totalled 226,274. AU these immigrants were from the United Kingdom, except 3909 who came from Europe. Between 1934 and 1945, only 50 immigrants had come from Europe. Between 1931 and 1935, the net exodus from the country was 9918, more being lost to the country than were gained by immigration. There was a movement of overseas capital to the Pacific countries, and a new world was being born in the Pacific basin, said Mr J. L. Hay. Wise people knew there was a market there to be developed. There was also recognition of the fact that New Zealanders had the genius and the capacity to be an industrial country as well as a great food-producing country. In his Budget speech, Mr Nash had said that there was already a shortage of labour of 33.000 persons, and that did not take into account any development which might take place. Australia had conceived a long range policy of immigration. and it was estimated that in 20 years the population of Australia would be 20,000,000. Similar bold policies were being followed by other countries. The New Zealand Government’s proposals were of a very timid and mild character.

Between 1946 and 1951, there would be 25 per cent, fewer young people available for industry, Mr Hay said. In one woollen mill there was not one person under 24 years of age. A local immigration committee should be set up, Mr Hay said, not to over-ride the Government, but to help in whatever way it could. The City Council had made a realistic approach to the problem of housing, and had approved a scheme to take over an area of land near a beach. The Government had made available sufficient Army huts to provide 200 housing units in six months. Interest of M.P.’s • Mr T. H, Langford, City Council public relations officer, said that a report on the immigration position had been sent to all the members of the old Parliament; 15 iiad acknowledged receipt, and six had expressed opinion::. Of the members of the new Parliament, two had replied and expressed opinions. “They will have to take the problem more seriously than they have done.” Mr Langford said. “People are being landed in New Zealand who are quite useless—they are sometimes as old as 86. They are good people, but an officer of the National Service department has said that the clerical workers are ‘not worth lOd a bundle.’ We 1 should make every endeavour to get the Government to take action with the British Government about the people coming here. We have to stand up as individuals and say what we think. The situation demands something different from halfmeasures.”

Accommodation was available at Weedons, Wigram, and Burnham, Mr langford said. More than 1000 houses had been finished in Christchurch iast year, and he thought that figure would be exceeded this year. “It will be a bad day for New Zealand when we don’t have a housing problem,” Mr Langford concluded. “We will deal with them if we get them here.” Among the resolutions earned by the meeting was one moved by Mr Langford, that representation be made to the Government urging that an appeal be made to shipping companies not to reconvert passenger carrying ships to pre-war standard for at least two years. Mr Langford said that the Ilan gi tiki would be on the stocks for eight months, and its carrying capacit would be reduced from 800 to 400.

Among other resolutions which were carried, were the following: “That the Government having appointed a New Zealand Immigration Council, consisting wholly of North Island residents, this conference recommends the establishment of regional immigration committees throughout the South Island”; “That the individuals here pi esent undertake to give every assistance possible to immigrants, and that a committee be appointed from this conference to deal with matters arising from it”; and “That the Government be requested to give married persons, assured ,of work and accommodation, equal priority in the matter of passage. and to bring them within the scope of the assistance clauses of the assisted immigration.

The following committee was elected:—The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), Mr H. E. Bachelor (R.S.A.), Mr Hz P. Bridge (Royal Empire Society), Mr A. M. Carpenter (Rangiora County Council), Mr N. E. Clemens (Kaiapoi Borough- Council), Mr P. R. Climie (Canterbury Progress ’League), Mr J. J. B. Connor (Society of St. Vincent de Paul), Mr J. H. Cclie (Methodist Church), Mr D. Cresswell (Mount Herbert County Council), the Rev. W. E. D. Davies (Church of England), Miss K. O’Connor (Catholic Women’s League); a representative of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers; Mr W. G. V. Fernie (Canterbury Employers’ Association). Mr G. D. Griffiths (Christchurch City Council), Miss M. G. Havelaar (North Canterbury Red Cross Society), Mr A. Lek-ington-Jones (Waimairi County Council), Mr E. C. Bathurst (Mayor of Ashburton). Mr W. T. Lindsay (Scottish Society), Mr P. McShane (Canterbury Junior Chamber of Commerce) Mr B. J Masters (Canterbury Manufacturers Association), the Rev. D. D MacLachlan (Presbyterian Church), Mr J* N. Smith. Miss M. Thompson •Cambrian Society), Mrs J. Mowbray I’ripp (Victoria League), a representative of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, Mr M. Walker, Mr J. L. Hay (Expansion and Development Committee), Mr T. H. Langford (Public Relations Officer), and a representative of the Salvation Army.

PROBLEM FACING BRITAIN DECLINING BIRTH-RATE AND AGING POPULATION .. P r 9blem Britain had to face in its declining birthrate and aging population was mentioned by the Rev. W. j P avies a t a meeting yesterday called by the expansion and development committee of the Christchurch City Council to discuss immigration, xie was speaking to a resolution moved by Mr A. Lexington-Jones, that in view of the enormo.us number of orphans in displaced persons’ camps in Europe, the conference believes it is the responsibility of New Zealand to accept many thousands of them, and undertakes to deal with the Canterbury quota should it be decided to admit them.” Apart from the children, there were many displaced persons in Europe, and indeed in the world, Mr Davies said. Britain faced the problem of a declining birthrate and an aging population, and it was estimated that at the end of the century, and at the beginning of the next, there would be a very serious decline in population. Mr Herbert Morrison had said that it was like a tug of war. Although they did not want to stop people leaving Britain, that country was in need of immigrants. They could not close their eyes to those factors, Mr Davies said. Displaced persons—carftsmen and artisans—would help the labour market immediately. It seemed wise, and perhaps considerate, to include “displaced persons” in the resolution.

Mr Jones said the point was covered by an earlier resolution discussed by the conference. The resolution was carried.