IMMIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1923, Page 3

IMMIGRATION

WHAT LABOUR THINKS

EVIDENCE BEFORE DELEGATION

PRESENT SYSTEM CONDEMNED.

When the Overseas Settlement Delegation was in Wellington, Messrs. P. Fraser, M.P., J. Koberts (secretary of the Alliance of Labour), and J. Read (president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council) tendered evidence regarding Labour's viewpoint on immigration.

It was stated that the Labour movement in New Zealand was not opposed to immigration, but that, on the contrary, the whole movement would gladly welcome their brothers and sisters from the old lands. It was necessary, however, to proceed with care. At the present time there was much unemploy-. ment throughout the Dominion. A report from the Labour Department show- i ed that in Wellington an average of 199.7 applications for employment had been received every week tor the previous nineteen weeks. This figure did not touch the actual unemployed, as tho majority did not apply to the Department. The fact that relief worlds were in existence was, in itself, the strongest of proof that unemployment was rife. In addition to this many trades were working short time. • The Labour Party would welcome their brothers and sisters from Great Britain, but they would insist that before they were brought here the Government should legislate to provide that all who are willing to work should have the right to work, or adequate maintenance if work were not available. Stress was laid on the housing shortage, and the arrival of every steamer from the Homeland was stated to be accentuating the evil. LAND SETTLEMENT. One of the witnesses (Mr. Fraser) said, with reference to land settlement, that he knew many competent farmers on the waterfront of the Dominion who would take up with enthusiasm any scheme which would give them access to the land. If the Government would work out a scheme of land settlement, the conditions of which were such that the people at present in the Dominion could get on the land if desired, and would also make sound provision for housing the people, then he could assure tho delegation that not only would the Labour Party welcome the people from overseas, but would do all in their power to make New Zealand "a home from home."

Mr. Bead said that a land policy which would make the land accessible to wage workers would be welcomed, but such a policy should make the land available to the people already in the Dominion before bringing people overseas. He stressed the possibilities of development and exploitation of forest growth, which could absorb many thousands at present unemployed. This was a field in which the amount set aside by the British Government for emigration purposes could be usefully and profitably employed. NO SHOETAGE OP MINEKS. Mr. Roberts said he desired to direct the attention of the delegation to the coal-mining industry, • for the labour organisations haii been informed that the Emigration Department of Qraet Britain had stated that there was a great shortage of coal miners in this Dominion. As a matter of fact, he said, this was riot so. He had recently visited the West Coast coal mining fields, which had the largest output of coal by a long way in Now Zealand, and he found that there was no shortage of labour whatever. The real trouble in the coal mining districts in New Zealand was the housing question. Many expert miners had left the industry owing to the bad housing conditions and the lack of opportunity offered for the education and employment of the children of coal miners. On the waterfronts of New Zealand alone there were at least 600 capable coal miners who had left the industry due to these causes. The housing conditions in some of the places were extremely bad. With regard to the freezing industry, Mr. Roberts stated that last season was the shortest on record, and many men who had followed this seasonal occupation for years had been unable to find employment at aIL In the Wellington district alone there was a falling-on of 800 in the 1922-23 season as compared with the number employed in the 1921-22 season. To a great extent the same applied to the waterside and other maritime industries. In 1920-21 there were 7675 men employed on the waterfronts of New Zealand. In 1922-23 this had fallen to 4892 —a reduction of 2783. The membership of the Marine Cooks and Stewards'' Union—men employed in the provender department in chips—was in 1919-20, 1385; in 1923 this had fallen to 878, a reduction of 757, or more than one-half. At the present time there are 189 men out of employment in thia industry. The secretary of the Boot Operatives' Union mentioned that employment and residential accommodation had been guaranteed by the Immigration Officer at the High Commissioner's Office-to two families. The residential accommodation arranged for consisted of a board-ing-house, and the cost of accommodation exceeded the guaranteed wages by 10s weekly. The position to-day wag that these two families were in a worse position than they were in England. They were living in one house, whereas in England each had a home. ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONS. On behalf oT the Labour movement, it is stated that the affect of the present nomination system is shown in the latest Government report on immigration. The ' number of new arrivals for permanent residence was 13,8*5. After deducting the children under 15 years, 3110; and dependants, 2878, an analysis of occupa-' tions gives the following results:—Agricultural, pastoral, and fishing, 1190----mining, 602; food trades, 91; hardware trades, 760; textiles and boots, 456----build- trades, 333; woodware trades 169; transport, 367; commerce and finance, 568; professional and clerical, 1009; personal and domestic, 1140; labourers, 474; general, 598. This means that of primary producers there are 1190, miners 602, workers in secondary industries (including transport) 2176 professional and commercial 1677, personal and domestic (chiefly domestic servants) 1140, labourers 474, and others 598.

The immigration policy as at present conducted, it is maintained, has had three effects: It has lowered wages increased unemployment, and accentuated the housing shortage. Finally, it is emphasised: (1) That New Zealand is a fertile land of great possibilitieg; (2) that the people here do not wish to reserve the land to themselves; (3) that a certain standard of living has been attained after many years of hard fighting; an d (4) that there is room in New Zealand for many more people provided that we have a scientifically organised immigration policy.