A PROTEST.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 800, 10 February 1909, Page 4

A PROTEST.

AGAINST THE RUSH OF IMMIGRANTS. LABOURITES AND A MINISTER. A PROMISE GIVEN. ' [PE» PBXSB ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, February 9. The Trades and Labour Council tonight waited on the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Immigration, to protest against a continuance of the present system of assisted immigration. It was pointed out that unemployment was general throughout the dominion, and the prospects for the coming winter were bad. . Hence the arrival of people from abroad was an embarrassment to workers and the country, generally. Mr Fowlds, in reply, said a country with New Zealand's possibilities should be able to absorb a fair number of people under normal conditions. It was wrong for the Government to add to an overstocked labour market, however, by paying for assisted immigration, arid where it was evident this was the result it would be ended. The demand for domestic servants was great and unsatisfied, and some time ago the High Commissioner in London was instructed that only domestic servants and agricultural labourers should be assisted. Of the immigrants arriving, only about one-third were assisted. Last year out of 6529 arrivals, only 1997 were approved hy the High Commissioner, and 1103 obtained assisted passages oh' the nomination of friends in the dominion. Certain shipping agents had Been making statements which were unwarranted, and it was difficult to know how this was to be dealt with. Anything that could he done to stop adding to an overstocked labour market would be done. * Speaking on the cry for land, the Minister said there was plenty of good land in Auckland to be had for the asking.