‘Brain drain on the increase’

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 12

‘Brain drain on the increase’

PA Wellington The Government should say immediately what it intends to do to counter the “rapidly escalating braimdrain,” says the Labour Party. The Opposition spokesman on Immigration (Mr F. M. Colman, Petone) said that the Government should also make clear its objects in the immigration field. Recent statistics showed that the population of New Zealand had suffered an over-all loss of 8698 last year. “A full break-down is not yet available, but the trend will show a loss of highly trained professional and skilled people — people this country cannot afford to lose,” said Mr Colman.

Immigration had been used as an election platform by the National Party in 1975, whipping up support by alleging that each migrant was

costing New Zealand $ll,OOO “Now that we are experiencing the biggest outflow since the recession years of 1967-69. perhaps the Prime Minister could tell us the economic costs in education and training that the loss of about 9000 trained and qualified New Zealanders would be,’’ he said.

Mr Muldoon had said that reducing immigration to a net gain of 5000 would be the biggest single factor in easing the pressure on the economy — particularly in health, housing, and social services.

“Now that the immigration pendulum has swung so far in the other direction, one could expect housing and similar services to be much more readily available,” said Mr Colman. “The truth of the matter is that it has never been more difficult for home owners to build or buy.” he said.