“Realistic” Policy On Immigration Urged

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29342, 22 October 1960, Page 11

“Realistic” Policy On Immigration Urged

An appeal for a ‘‘realistic policy of immigration" was made by the chairman of directors of the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing’ Company, Ltd., Mr W. R, McCallum, at the annual meeting of shareholders yesterday. “Trading conditions-in the markets open to our goods have been keenly competitive,” Mr McCallum said. “Notwithstanding this a record turnover has been achieved and the demand for nearly all our products has exceeded our capacity to manufacture. To this extent I am able to give you a heartening picture of our affairs. Turnover could have been appreciably higher and pur profits also increased but tor a chronic shortage of staff in almost all our manufacturing units. "The labour shortage' has become our greatest single problem in maintaining production and entirely outweighs the difficulties resulting from the -shortage of certain materials for manufacture, which hampered our efforts to some extent during the previous year."Familiar Problem” “It now seems apparent that the great development of manufactur-

who will ‘be leaving school and coming on to the labour market during the next few years it is now considered by those who have carried out some research into the matter that the problem of overfull employment is likely to remain with us at least for another 10 years, even if the rate of Immigration is increased substantially. •‘New Zealand industry is critically short of technical specialists and skilled craftsmen. In common with other woollen manufacturers this company has brought out a number of skilled personnel from overseas during the last few years. Many more are needed if our industry is to make its full contribution to the economy of the country.

“Whichever party is returned to power in the forthcoming election it is to be hoped it will proceed with a realistic policy of immigration. The example of what has been achieved in Australia should be kept before us in this respect," Mr McCallum concluded.