More Migrants Wanted

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 3

More Migrants Wanted

(N.Z. Press Association) WANGANUI April 30. The Associated Chambers of Commerce will invite the widest possible support for an approach to the Government to extend New Zealand’s immigration programme. This was decided at the chambers’ conference today when a remit tabled by Mr T G. N. Carter (Hutt Valley) was adopted.

Mr M. Mackinnon (Dunedin) said New Zealand's production was being increased by a decreased labour force and it would further increase if more immigrants came into the country. Mr R. C. Macdonald (Wellington) said New Zealand was falling behind the rest of the world in production, and was critically short of workers. “We don't want to open the flood-gate and let everybody in, but we need more immigrants to sustain the volume of production,” said Mr Macdonald.

Mr L. A. Cameron (Hutt Valley) said some of New Zealand’s freezing works could not work efficiently without temporary work permits being issued to allow Islanders to come to New Zealand.

Mr C. H. Cooper (Gisborne) said primary industries were acutely short of both skilled and unskilled labour.

The remit urged support for a joint approach to the Government to expand the immigration programme, to demonstrate there was an unanimity of opinion in favour of such a move.