MIGRATION POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 19021, 17 August 1925, Page 1

MIGRATION POLICY

AND EMPIRE PREFERENCE VISCOUNT BURNHAM'S VIEWS [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August _ 17. Viscount Burnham had somotliing to say upon the subject of immigration, a question that has received his close attention for many years. He has been a member of the Immigration Authority since 1894, and has regularly attended meetings of the Overseas Settlement Committee. The previous day, lie said, the dolegates had held a meeting to discuss the question of immigration. They had been fortunate in having Sir Thomas Mackenzie's views. Mr Amery, who was on his way to Australia upon his immigration mission, had always believed that, allowing for the limitation that must bo imposed in regard to numbers, prospects in New Zealand in many respects were idea! for oversea settlement, “ Especially,” said Lord Burnham. “am 1 anxious to see tho immigration of hoys from public schools and secondary schools. lam not, ot course, suggesting immigration of a particular class, but advocate generally the immigration of youth. Then you have the making of their characters and_ their adaptation to the oversea conditions, which are not so. certain in the case of older people. Here you have a system of nomination that I highly approve of, but 1 hope it may be extended so that church bodies of all denominations may be able to make themselves responsible fjbr immigrants, recommending those recommended by their related bodies at Home. Now Zealand was partly founded by groups of settlors organised by the various churches, and it would be a fine thing if that could he continued in connection with the nomination system, it could dovetail in quite well, I think.” The conference in Australia would discuss, he said, t}le question ot newspapers’ relations to oversea settlement, and the delegates hoped; to have addresses from people qualified to speak for both Australia and Now Zealand. Ho was glad to see that tho position of Now Zealand trade was so good, and the financial position so satisfactory. Naturally, England, wanted to keep her trade relations with the dominions- on the host looting possible. He had been glad to hear that there was promise of improved trade-in beei. “I am anxious for the newspaper Press at Home,” he continued, “ to go in for an Imperial policy in trade, to create a strong sentiment in favor of the use of Empire products. 1 believe a great deal can be done. It ought to bo possible to obtain voluntary preference for. Empire products. Newspapers are not only the means for carrying out propaganda to this end, but they aie the'principal means. I hope we shall he able to adopt a policy at_ the conference which will have some influence.