More Migrants, Chinese Servants, Wanted

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31047, 30 April 1966, Page 13

More Migrants, Chinese Servants, Wanted

“The Press’* Special Service AUCKLAND, April 29. Over-full employment was no good for either employers it- employees, said Mr G. F. Stock, in his presidential address to he annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand.

Mr Stock advocated a vigorous assisted immigration programme, and suggested that thousands of Chinese be brought in to help “the hardest worked women in the world” —the housewives of New Zealand. "For years and years the country has been held to ransom by the sacred c w called full employment.” said Mr Stock. For a long time the Federation of Labour had pot away with over-protection of its members. • It was not healthy to have

the measure of over-full employment which existed in this country today. It was no good for either employers or employees. “The Government sometimes heeds the advice of economists instead of listening to the dire needs of industry. The main thought with the Government seems to be that each immigrant costs the country £2OOO because houses and other facilities have to be provided. “I state emphatically that I do not agree with this approach because it is not by any means the case that all newcomers arrive with a family, and single immigrants

do not require extra accommodation immeliately. “Further, the basis on which the Government does its estimating concerning the capital cost involved in our total immigration intake needs investigating. “The statistics classify as permanent departures those New Zealanders who go abroad for more than 12 months, and when these people show up again in the statistics as arrivals, they are actually not newcomers requiring the finding of millions for expenditure on housing and other facilities. “Third, while we have impressed on us ad nauseum this bogey of £2OOO estimated capital outlay an immigrant, no attempt is made to balance the ledger by setting down also the estimated value of the extra manpower and production represented by the immigrant. In our state of over-full employment, he becomes immediately a producer as well as a consumer. I feel sure the Government Statistician could provide the figure if asked. “It is time the Government persuaded the Federation of Labour that it is in the interests of their members as well as of the other groups in the community that a vigorous assisted immigration policy be pursued.”