Attack On Immigration Scheme

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 14

Attack On Immigration Scheme

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 10. The amended immigration scheme came under fire today from members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Chambers of ComImerce.

| At a meeting of the Wellington chamber tonight memI bers agreed to refer the question to their management for further action.

One councillor, Mr R. C Macdonald, described the new scheme as faint-hearted and lacking in initiative. The representative for the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association on the council. Mr G. Hardwick-Smith, said the Government had certainly reviewed the subsidised scheme but this scheme would never bring in enough people [to be of any use. I In fact, it had been so unsuccessful that manufacturers had hoped the Government would look towards the assisted passage scheme.

Another councillor, Mr A. R. Simm, said the Government had had plenty of time to study the immigration problem and its new policy had not shown any thorough research. If more migrants were to be brought to New Zealand there should be a study made of where they were to be housed and plans should be made for developing more housing areas. The personnel officer of one of New Zealand's largest manufacturing groups, Mosgiel Woollens, Ltd, has accused the Government of - making its immigration pol- - icy a political issue, says a Press Association message

. from Dunedin. Mr G. S. Smellie said tonight • that the Government was i fully aware of the labour r needs up to nine months ago. i It had made the issue political by announcing an amen- • ded policy at the opening of I the Marlborough by-election ■ campaign. ! Mr Smellie he was very > happy with the amendments. > “But 1 am concerned that the Government knew six to • nine months ago what the sit--1 uation in industry was and - that there was a definite - shortage of skilled and semi-1 f skilled labour,” he said. j "The plight is not new and, i is as great now as it was j about nine months ago ’’