Migration From Islands Favoured

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30288, 14 November 1963, Page 29

Migration From Islands Favoured

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 13. Government policy is to encourage Pacific Islanders to emigrate to New Zealand, the of Island Territories (Sir Leon Gotz) hag told the Auckland City Council.

In a letter received by the council Sir Leon Gotz said H v. as curernt Government policy to ■ encourage the 1 emigration of islanders in view of the economic petition of the islands and the increasing population. The Minister was replying to a council letter drawing his attention to overcrowding by islanders in Auckland. ' The Council had suggested to him that islanders be refused permission to migrate to New Zealand unless adequate accommodation was available for them. Ln his reply, the Minister said: “We cannot keep Cook. Niue, or Tokelau Islanders tout of New Zealand, because . being British subjects and New Zealand citizens they have as much right to live in metropolitan New Zealand -■as have European New Zealanders who are born here. "With the limited potentialities for economic development in New Zealand’s island territories, together with the fest-growing population and limited area of the islands, nt is currently our policy to encourage rather than to dis- , courage emigration to New This is particularly so of the Cook Islands." It was recognised. Sir Leon Gotz said, that this policy produced problems such as overcrowded housing. In view of this and other welfare problems he had directed his

department to arrange an independent survey of the welfare of all islanders from New Zeeland territories in New Zealand “I am convinced, however, that any steps we take cannot have a bearing on overcrowding,” said Sir Leon Gotz. "This problem is one for the city authorities who, alone, have the power to deal with it.”