THE WILL TO WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 8, 9 July 1938, Page 14

THE WILL TO WORK

IMMIGRATION ISSUE

INHERITANCE OF MAN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, July 8. "I consider that it is quite out of the question to think we can exclude fit and proper immigrants to Australia and New Zealand for ever and a day. We must face up to the position and do. so as quickly as possible," said Sir Andrew Russell at a meeting of the Hastings Rotary Club, speaking upon immigration.

When visiting Australia recently, Sir Andrew said, he made inquiries in various parts, and particularly where immigration schemes were very prominent. ' There were complaints that too many Italians were coming into the country, the objection being that they were buying out Australian settlers, for they, lived cheaper, worked longer hours, and did so harder. They knew more about irrigation than the Australian' settlers, for in their homeland they had studied close settlement.

In another area, where the dairy industry was paramount, there was a similar complaint among men on returned soldiers' settlements. With their lower standard of living the Italians were acquiring a foothold.

"We in New Zealand represent one outpost of the British Empire and Australia another," said Sir Andrew, "and if we are to hold on to what we have then we will have to fill up our country, if' not with our own people or from the Motherland; then from European countries. We must do it, and we must make up our minds about it, too; also we must make them welcome to this country, giving up any idea of class and racial feeling. We must hot growl if they work harder than we dp; rather we must work harder ourselves and strive to beat them at working harder."