Immigration

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 8

Immigration

Sir, —The year is 196? Hundreds of junks (expendable) are approaching New Zealand territorial waters with a million men women, and children (even more expendable) aboard. The junks and their passengers are unarmed. The intention to land on our shores is clear. Who can stop this peaceful migration? Is the Navy to sink the junks and drown those aboard? Landings are made all round our coastline. Tens of thousands of those aboard are lost but even more struggle ashore. They converge on the townships, on the shops, on our homes. Are they to be shot down? How can the situation be controlled? A second, a third, and other waves follow. Where is the standard of living now? Cannot the foolish ones who oppose immigration understand that New Zealand cannot continue to exist indefinitely as a partial vacuum? Lord Bledisloe warned us many years ago.— Yours, etc., A. F. PERHOTT. April 11, 1960.

Sir,—lf “Third Generation Kiwi” is really concerned about the future of the best farmlands he should read the February issue of “Forest and Bird” where he can see what the future will be. Not large areas turned into housing developments but large areas covered with shingle coming down from the mountains in everincreasing amounts because first or second generation Kiwi introduced animals that turned out to be disastrous pests: deer, opossum, chamois, that, goats and wallabies. If “Third-Generation Kiwi” wants to see convincing photos of the damage done by them he should buy “Westland’s Wealth.” A large number of immigrants could easily be accommodated without flooding the farmlands with houses if a more rational use were made of existing space. All the dilapidated houses near the centre of Christchurch, that will turn into slums within 10 to 20 years, could be replaced by more efficient accommodation. —Yours, etc., DUTCH IMMIGRANT. April 11, 1960.