IMMIGRATION POLICY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 11

IMMIGRATION POLICY

Criticism By Chambers

“New Zealand’s immigration policy seems to turn like a weather-vane with every breeze,” says a leading article in “New Zealand Commerce,” the official journal of the Associated chambers of Commerce. “When a cut of one-third in the number of assisted immigrants was announced by the Minister of Immigration (also the same man as the Minister of Labour) in April of last year the reasons given were prevailing economic conditions and the overseas exchange position,” says the article.

“Whether or not because those factors have improved out of all recognition, the reason now given for maintaining reduced assisted immigration intake is that 40,000 children would be eligible to leave school this year. “While the greater nuinber of young ; people coming forward from the schools in New Zealand will help to ease apprenticeship and other employment vacancies, more information should be sought by our Government on the factors which actuate the Australian Government in regulating the flow of assisted immigrants to the Commonwealth. It is clear that the determinant is not just the extent of mineral resources.”

The article says that “next time, the reason given could well be that no immigrant ship is available—when the real purpose appears to be to. keep labour in short supply.”