LOSS OF LABOUR Industry Seeks More Migrants

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 1

LOSS OF LABOUR Industry Seeks More Migrants

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 8.

The Government will be asked ,to provide a continuing level of immigration, which in conjunction with normal population increase would achieve the National Development Conference growth target of 41 per cent a year in gross national product.

This was included in a motion passed by the annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation today which urged the Government to review its immigration policies.

The conference expressed concern at the continuing emigration of labour and what it claimed was the ineffectiveness of immigration schemes.

The Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) told the conference that a study of the problems associated with emigration should be made in conjunction with any study of immigration. He said that the Government would pay attention to any matters arising from the conference relating to this subject. Opening the conference, the Governor-General (Sir Arthur Porritt) said that there was a dire need for more people in New Zealand, especially in the skilled craftsmen and professional classes. There was an alarmingly negative balance between immigration and emigration, he said. S6om Loss Every 1000 young people lost through emigration represented a lost investment of SlOm, the president of the Federation (Dr H. C. Holland) said in his main address. “The actual figure is probably much higher, and last year it represented a net loss of s6om or more after meeting all the costs of immigration, a loss which New Zealand could not afford,” he said.

“A conservative estimate of the combined private and community cost of raising a young New Zealander would be $5OO a year—much less than half the national income

a head —but even on that basis the cost would be $lO,OOO on the upbringing and education of a young man or woman at 20.” It was a national tragedy that in 12 months to June, 1969, the net loss of population from New Zealand through migration was 6170 people. “In the age group 15-39, the loss was 5756 people—nearly 6000 of the cream of our young adults.” It was claimed that there was a capital cost in bringing immigrants to New Zealand. That was not denied—but the young immigrants were a valuable immediate addition to the labour force. “There is no question of compelling young people to stay in New Zealand or reducing the investment in their upbringing. Instead, social and economic objectives suggest an increase in this investment

“Further, they should be attracted to stay in New Zealand and be joined by a continuing influ; of immigrants who will help to give our economy the production boost which is needed if we are to achieve the targets set for the 19705. “These objectives can be achieved but not if the population drift from New Zealand continues,” Mr Holland said. “People Interested” A successful immigration scheme should be geared to the needs of New Zealand as an expanding economy, and it should be on a forwardlooking long-term basis, not subject to “stop-go" policies, said the federation’s annual report New Zealand needed to be much more active in attracting immigrants. There were large numbers of people in

many countries who were interested in migrating to New Zealand in spite of competition from countries such as Australia and Canada. The cut in the assisted immigration target made a few years ago had not been restored. The Government announced an increase in the number of immigrants who could be brought in on an assisted-passage scheme and a number of manufacturers took this up with enthusiasm but there had been little worth-while result The main reason for this was that the procedure was not suitable for dealing swiftly and effectively with intending migrants. An active immigration policy was a declaration of faith in the future of the country, and this was an appropriate time to make such a declaration, said the report.