Immigrants.

Evening Star, Issue 17957, 2 May 1922, Page 4

Immigrants.

The Priin-a Minister's statement to a Wellington deputation Hi at t!io last big batch of immigrants has arrived, and that there will be no more large shipments before the spring, will bo received with very general relief. New Zealand needs more immigrants, but it docs not need them at the present time. There was cause for disquietude in the circumstance that in a. year of depression and unemployment this country has been receiving more new settlers than it lias done since the boom years of first development. Apprehensions caused by the untimely influx were but partially allayed by the assurances constantly given that the groat majority of these newcomers were of the nominated class, who would know tho billets wailing them when they arrived here, as birds know their own nests on a cliff face. It was hard to believe that employers, who too generally have been under the necessity of reducing staffs, could have so many vacant billets. With two million unemployed in Britain, it was inevitable that there should bo an incro'as-

ing tendency to seek homes overseas, but the nominated system of' immigration, though admittedly tho best that exists, can havo its own disadvantages. The man who lias come out to a new country and prospered reasonably under favorable conditions mav be too oblivious of times and seasons in his desire to see bis kinsfolk near him, and) wo havo board of cases in which immigrants, not workless at Home, who havo been so persuaded to change their lot, have found cause since, for regretting their precipitancy. We cannot close the door to British unemployed who are capable of becoming useful settlers, but they should know precisely what tho conditions which await them arc before they are encouraged to seek new homes; and an immigration policy which deserves tho name will ensure (hat employment for the country's development will be available for them on arrival. There has riot boon much system in the recent encouragement of immigration. The Government has done something to provide work for newcomers, as well as for older New Zealanders who have found themselves without it owing to causes from which no land is immune, at the present time. But it lias not done snfiieienfc to prevent at least a proportion of those who havo been encouraged to seek our shores from finding work as difficult to obtain as it was in tho country which they left, while tho position of ‘‘ twenty hungry beggars after every job that’s advertised” is not eased for tiro established applicants by their addition to the number. Immigrants all over the country, .Mr Massey is reported as saying, helped tho country to hear I lie burden of debt, but that is not true of immigrants who come here only to swell the ranks of tho unemployed. All tho prospects were, until very recently, that a harder winter than Inst would require to bo faced in the coming months by too many New' Zealanders before the depression which has affected this country lees than most others, but still appreciably, should bo overpast, and concern has quite naturally been felt iu more than Labor circles as to what the conditions might be if the immigrant chips should keep on arriving, bringing fresh crowds of newcomers, ns they have done in the twelve months gone by. Happily the signs are brighter now for the coming winter than there seemed room to hope a few weeks ago they could possibly ho. Tim ' outlook is better for tho country's main products. Tho live millions loan, raised comparatively cheaply, will go sonic way in causing a new impetus to bo, given to developmental works which make employment, and the cost of necessaries tends steadily to decline. Notwithstanding that improved outlook, it is a relief to learn that there will fca a lull in the arrival ot new immigrants till the spring. Before tho spring conies the Government will do well to work nut an immigration system which will provide tor the absorption of future newcomers by less haphazard methods than those which havo contented it in the past. If this country is to co-operate as it should do, for its own and the Oh! Country's benefit, in the great scheme of Empire migration, the date of whoso beginning is still in tho future, its land policy must bo reformed much further to make room for closer settlement. A definite scheme of public works which will aid development and conduce to tho increase of production must lie mapped out in their order of importance, and before the Government brings out one shipload of immigrants it must know how and where they are to he employed. Tho whole country will havo reason then for welcoming immigrants.