IMMIGRATION

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 220, 11 June 1924, Page 10

IMMIGRATION

R.S.A. DISCUSSION

PROGRESSIVE POLICY RECOMMENDED (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, June 10. The subject of immigration was discussed at the annual conference of the Now Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association to-day, when on behalf of the Immigration Committee, Mr. B. J. Jacobs submitted a report recommending that a progressive immigration policy was necessary. Before such policy could be inaugurated, they considered (1) that the Government should bring down a progressive land policy, providing for the immediate development of all suitable unoccupied lands other than those set apart for forestry, whether owned By the Crown or by private individuals, such lands to be made available for close settlement; (2) that the Government should endeavour to obtain from the Imperial Government a grant of sufficient funds for the training and settlement of exImperial soldiers. The committee also recommended that in view of the reported success and utility of similar institutions in other Dominions, the Government should consider the appointment of a local honorary immigration committee in each large centre to work in conjunction with the Immigration Department. The duty of the committees would be to welcome and endeavour to find employment for immigrants who are not farmers.

Mr. J. McCrae (Otago) supported the recommendations, and urged that the Government should throw open more land for immigrants. Mr. W. E. Leadley (Canterbury) said that he considered that New Zealand should bo able to absorb more than 8000 immigrants a year. He supported the idea of local committees, referring to the success of these committees in Australia.

Mr. W. A. Aldred (Auckland) spoke of the different farming conditions in England and New Zealand. There should, he said, be some wav of training the men for New Zealand farm work, otherwise they would throw their farms up and would swell the population of the towns.

Mr. H. B. Burdekin (Wellington) said that there was danger of an Asi-.' atic invasion now that the Singapore base had been abandoned. It was now more necessary than ever that the country should be populated with white people. Mr. G. W. Lloyd (Temuka) said that immigration should not be gone on with while there was unemployment in the country. The chairman (Mr. D. S. Smith) said that in the interest of the defence of the country and the necessity of keeping the country white, there should be a population of at least 5,000,000.

Mr. R. B. Bell (Canterbury) said that more care should be exercised in selecting the type of immigrants,. They should not t#ke more immigrants than the country could absorb. Mr. Leadley moved that a sub-lcom-mittee be set up to bring down a suitable resolution. This was carried.

TROTTING CONTROL BRYCE’S SUSPENSION EXTENDED By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, June 10. At to-day’s meeting of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association James Bryce, jun., was called before the board, and admitted having been on the_ Ashburton racecourse on June 7. having been previously warned by the association that he must not attend any race meetings during the currency of his suspension. It was resolved that the term of his suspension be extended to July 31, 1925. The term of his original suspension would have expired on February 2, 1925. A full report was received from Mr. T. H. Davy, stipendiary steward, and it was resolved that the board considered asi satisfactory his report on the running of the Victory Handicap at Dunedin, and having examined the statements made the board found that the horse Realm was not telegraphed for as stated, but had actually left Christchurch for Dunedin on the morning of the first day’s racing at that course;

It was resolved to forward to the New Zealand Racing Conference a letter of appreciation of Racecourse In-, spector Torrance’s services in connection with the inquiries made by him on behalf of the association on various matters.