MIGRATION POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 19004, 28 July 1925, Page 2

MIGRATION POLICY

VIEWS OF FARMERS’ PRESIDENT EXTENSIVE SCHEME ADVOCATED At the annual conference of iho Now Zealand Fanners’ Union, hold at Wellington to-day, tho president, Air AW J. Poison, substituted for the customary presidential review some remarks devoted almost exclusively to (he outstanding Imperial problem of the day, immigration, in (lie proper and speedy solution of which (ho s* id) the people of every part of the Empire, and especially New Zealand, are vitally concerned.

“My aim,” bo said, “is to attempt to point tho moral of ilia I larger policy to which the Secretary of State for the Dominions has given such eloquent expression, and to see whether as the. outcome of our. serious deliberations it is possible for ns to formula to practicable proposals tho adoption of which by tho Government of this, dominion, in co-operation with tho Imperial authorities, would enable New Zealand to play a worthy part in a great cooperative effort to solve satisfactorily tho economic and industrial problems of the Empire, and to establish its component parts 'in peace and security. , “Parochial objection, or, shall 1 say partisan objection, to any policy of expansive immigration is not peculiar to Now Zealand. Whenever and wherever this question is raised, opposing views come into prominence. Perhaps the most common objection to progressive immigration is that the State should not assist immigration because a large population in a country means a reduction in tho general standard of living, an increase in tho volume of crime and poverty, and the filching qway of tho heritage of those already settled in the country. This familiar objection is, I think, inspired by a narrow-visioned selfishness founded on a complete misconception of the real and beneficent consequences of prudent immigration, and utterly opposed to tho facts of history. From our own and Australia’s standpoint, the rational view is that the position of tho existing population is too serious to allow of further delay in reinforcing it from tho most acceptable source—the Alothcr Land.

DWINDLING FIGURES. “ There was a, time when the statesmen of tho dominion, ns tangible evidence of their recognition of this fact, gave encouragement to a vigorous immigration policy. J’roof of this is to be found in the current issue of tho Official Year Book. The statistics given therein are startling in their revelation of tlie change that has taken place. They show that for the sevon-year period from 1873 to 1879 a total of 84,438 migrants carno into New Zealand, an average of 12,062 per year, while from 1917 io 1923 tho total was 33,875, representing a meagre 4,800 por year. Having regard to the lingo area of land still unoccupied, plus tho still larger area that is still only partially developed, it cannot ho reasonably argued that what may bo termed tho absorption capacity of the dominion has been appreciably diminished; it would be manifestly absurd lo suggest that it had been diminished to an extent proportionate to tho restriction of tho tide of immigration revealed by tho figures to which I have alluded. To what, then, arc we to attribute this repression of our country’s natural growth? Ono wonders if partisan expediency in the political arena has had anything to do with it. Hero, as elsewhere, there are more politicians than statesmen, and it may bo that our politicians have boon influenced, perhaps subconsciously, by tlie voting strength of that not inconsiderable section of the electorate which has. that spirit of narrow-visioned selfishness.

PROMISING AUSTRALIAN SCHEAIE. After allusion to Canada’s policy, Mr Poison referred to Australia as providing a scheme perhaps move adaptable to New Zealand. “It was recently announced,” ho said, “ that an agreement had been concluded between the Secretary ol State for the Colonies and the Government for the Commonwealth for tho purpose of making capital available for the requirements of development and settlement. Tlie scheme aims at iho settlement in Australia within tho ensuing ten years of 450,000 assisted migrants from tho United Kingdom, including 34,000 families, averaging five persons each. Under tho agreement the Commonwealth Government undertakes to raise loans not exceeding £31,000,000 for issue to tho State Governments at a low rate of interest. Those loans will he expended on developmental works in rural districts. . . .

“ Jjis Alajcsty’s Government has undertaken, subject to the conditions of the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, to pay a .contribution to tho Commonwealth Government, over and above its contribution towards tho cost of passages, in tho proportion of approximately £130.000 _ for every principal sum (if £77)0,000 issued to a Stale Government under tho agreement. Each contribution of £130,000 will be dependent on the satisfactory settlement of 10,000 assisted migrants in the State concerned within a period of ten years from the present date, and an agreed proportion of the migrants must consist of families. Special provisions are made in respect of schemes for land settlement, and the number _ of migrants to ho settled in connection with such schemes is fixed on a different basis. Tho contribution of His Majesty’s Government is approximately equivalent to onc-half of the interest on tlie loans for a period of five years, and one-third of the interest for a further period of five years. “At least one-half of any farms made available under the scheme will bo reserved for migrants from the United Kingdom. Such migrants will ho assisted under Government supervision in the management and development of their farms, and will be able to obtain advances through the State agricultural financial institutions or from other sources upon the same terms as are applicable to persons already in Australia. Aligrants who do not settle upon the land will be found suitable employment at tho rate of wages prevailing in Australia for persons of similar experience. Special arrangements for the reception, training, and after care of assisted migrants *rill he made by the appropriate Governments in Australia, and His Majesty’sGowniment has undertaken to conir'iiate one-third of the capital and maintenance costs of reception depots which will, where necessary, he established in country districts. “ The spirit of co-operation embodied in this Australian scheme is, I think, you will agree, commendable, but the" magnitude of the problem requires still greater efforts. These figures approximate more closely to the requirements of New Zealand than they do to those of the vastly larger territories of the Commonwealth. However, tho fact that such an agreement between tlm Alothcr Country and Australia. has been actually ratified is in itself sufficient to demand some equally definite effort on tho part of New Zealand. Pitch an effort must of necessity be based on a practicable scheme affording mutual advantage to the contracting parties—to wit, the Alothcr Land, New Zealand, and the prospective migrants.

ESSENTIALS OF NEW ZEALAND SCHEME. “ As a basis for discussion, then, I. venture to suggest as I he essentials of such a scheme : 1. The sotting up of machinery in New Zealand to deal more generally with immigration and a closer mutation ot Canada in publicity work at tho other end. 2. The establishment of an Immigration Board to handle the whole question at this end, with powers to control migrants for a certain de- ; finite period, lo acquire land for the .settlement of migrants, and to administer such lands until the migrants are capable of managing for themselves. 3. The c neon rage; men t of tho group system of immigration on somewhat similar lines to the Westralian scheme. 4. The establishment of numerous farm schools where both native born New Zealanders and suitable immigrants could bo trained to farming pursuits, - 5. Tho heller application of tho nominal ion system for all classes of migrants than is at present the case. (i. Closer co-operation and consultation with the Imperial Government in order to take full advantage of tlie. Acts passed by tho British I’arlia meat for the encouragement of inter-Empire migration. 7. More careful scrutiny of migrants from all sources from the point of view of public health. “It is probable, I think, that but comparatively few New Zealandersrealise what the Alothcr Land lias shown herself ready to do in this connection. Not only has sho earmarked tho sum of £45,(100,000 .for the purpose of encouraging emigration to tho dominions —on tins basis of an estimated expenditure of £3,000,000 per annum for fifteen years—but, under her Trade Facilities Act of 1920 she has set aside credits to tho extent of £70,000,000, all of which are intended to bo available for private and public enterprise in the dominions, for loan or developmental work requiring British manufactured articles. Aloncy talks in convincing language, and in that language she has made manifest the sincerity of her desire to do her full part to secure the double-barrelled advantage of lessened pressure in Britaip and more rapid development overseas. Surely it is onr duty to reciprocate, to play up to our full strength in tho great game of 'Empire building, and,' by wisely availing ourselves of the assistance that has been offered, help to make this country what onr pioneering forbears hoped it would be.” RURAL SETTLERS. Air Poison proceeded to urge tho necessity of scrapping some of tho present methods, and putting a summary end to the comparatively unchecked nomination of unsuitable persons. “AAA are all assured,” lie proceeded, “ that what Now Zealand needs most is rural settlers of the right type. I fully appreciate the difficulty. . . . The people with whom Britain is least anxious to part are her farmers and farm workers, yet they nro the very people whom the dominions are most anxious to get. I do not regard it as impossible to make a .successful farmer out of a good townsman, but there is a much better clianco of it when we catch them young. This can be done only by judicious selection of the raw material, and by entrusting tho moulding of that 'material to experts. FARAI SCHOOLS ESSENTIAL. “To this end farm schools are absolutely essential. Briefly, the proposal is to select farms here and there, run by successful farmers, and constitute them semi-State institutions, controlled by farm school boards. In these farm schools, carefully selected young men, including migrants, would undergo a three to five years* course in lanning—practical farming—and ho paid a modest wage for their work. Alter passing a qualifying examination the young men would bo placed on farms of their own, or rather which they would have tho right to make their own, on lines akin to those which formed the basis of the soldiers’ settlement scheme. Flock House is already proving a splendid example of what can bo accomplished in this direction. Bo far as adult immigrants are concerned, State-aided provision should also be made for their transformation into successful settlers. In this connection, lot mo say that while I do not regard as wholly undesirable the admission of a certain percentage of European immigrants, 1 regard it as fundamental that the influx of foreign nationals should be strictly regulated and never bo permitted to prejudice tho legitimate interests of our own countrymen. What the neglect of this safeguard might mean was indicated in a recent report from Queensland, where, it is alleged, low-paid Italian immigrants worn crowding British-born Queenslanders out of employment. (J RO U P lAI.AI IGR ALTON. “Tho success achieved elsewhere justifies the suggestion that group immigration for adults should bo worked in alliance with farm training for hoys. Australia is showing ns the way along both lines. Under tho Harwell system South Australia is hurrying hoys to her training grounds, while the Dreadnought scheme has also proved at least a minor .success. “ Westralia with its group system, however, has successfully settled thousands on tho land. Tins system appears to mo to ho peculiarly applicable to New Zealand, whore much of • what may be termed our . lighter land still awaits development. Tho settlement of this land must be a national undertaking, for, while it is unquestionable that this class of land can bo successfully settled, the probability of its being within the means of private enterprise to do it is quite another matter. Tho group system provides for the settlement of groups of migrants and others under tho control of an experienced Government officer. The areas chosen must, of course, bo suitable, and on these tho settlors work at bringing land into cultivation. For this they receive a suitable wage. At tho end of from throe to five years the land is cut up, loaded with their wages and other legitimate costs, and balloted for. The settlers then ‘carry on’ and pay for their farms under an authorisation scheme similar to that proposed in 1 lie Agricultural Banking Bill. I have nob succeeded in obtaining any recent data in respect to this important system ot settlement, but when tho Imperial immigration Committee was in New Zealand there were 18,000 settlers settled apparently .successfully on these lands, and the committee spoke very highly of the scheme. At all events it is wort!) a trial. I am personally inclined to believe that if ? instead of buying costly land from efficient farmers, and displacing skilled producers by unskilled ones, and incidentally by large cash payments to the former, creating a serious land boom through tho .sellers’ natural endeavor to buy in again hi tho host districts—if instead of committing this economic error we had adopted the group system for tho repatriation of our soldiers and spent tho millions on bringing the light lands of tho north into high productivity, it would have been bettor for New Zealand. Hut the whole question requires more skilled and scientific treatment than it is receiving, j It urban workers are to be brought into New _ Zealand in large, numbers, the machinery must be available for their satisfactory distribution at this end. It j should ho possible for employers goner-' ally to make known their requirements to the Aligration Board if such existed, j so that the migrant might be sure ot’ I the opportunity of suitable employment at a trade or occupation which he had spent a. considerable portion of his life in learning. Housing would also require to ■ ho considered, and cheaper homes for these workers got ready. “ If we are to take advantage of the Imperial Act along the lines'of Australia, the board would require to study the whole question from the point of view ot the requirements ot the dominion, and la| dow» a stfiß fiWJ-

snltntinn with the New Zealand Government, win'd) must, of course, possess a deciding voice. It might bo found possible to direct one stream of youthful migrants into tho homes or employ of our farm population, another stream towards group settlements where in conjunction with native.born intending .settlors tbey could be put t o work in the manner i have described, a third stream might consist of urban workers, and a fourth of farm laborers; while, of course, every effort should bo made to encourage domestic workers and people with families. In this way it. might be possible to provide for five different streams of migrants into New-. Zealand without adding to unemployment, and without interfering with the law which ought to govern the distribution of our population as between town and country. “I have suggested tho establishment of a board to control tins important undertaking because Government departments arc subject to the whims of the Government in power, and Governments change in New Zealand as elsewhere. It is desirable to have an authority with a definite policy that will not bo disturbed or overlooked whenever a general election looms--up.”