Immigration

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31755, 12 August 1968, Page 12

Immigration

Sir, —A Manufacturers’ Federation official wants 8000

Government - assisted immigrants yearly; yet we have about 8000 unemployed whom he says are unsuitable as skilled workers. But many of the latter are sufficiently intelligent to adapt themselves to manufacturing conditions. He seems to assert, however, that labourers’ wages are too high to attract them into industry, thus implying that skilled workers’ wages are in comparison too low. There are many potential workers obliged to stay an extra year at school, who could easily be absorbed in industry. Why, therefore, should the overburdened Government give assistance to immigrants merely to help manufacturers? Our own population is growing so rapidly that the Government lags in providing for educational facilities, for effective school staffing, for adequate salaries for professors, for hospital expansion, for improved medical services and supply of doctors, and for adequate social services. So why the need for an extensive immigration policy?—Yours, etc., C. August 8, 1968.