EMPIRE MIGRATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1928, Page 5

EMPIRE MIGRATION

LORD LOVAT’S MISSION.

(Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 8. Lord Lovat, Minister in charge ol Overseas Settlement, arrived to-day bj the Niagara. He will spend twc weeks in New Zealand. Lord Lovat was accorded a civic reception, at which Sir Heaton Rhodes represented the Government. Sir H. Rhodes mentioned that the average number of immigrants between 1920 and 1926. was 8000. This influx had been temporarily checked, but they all hoped and believed that the balance of the importations of immigrants of the right type would speedily readjust itself. “I can say at once,” said Lord Lovat, “that I have the very greatest pleasure in coming to New Zealand. We have had a most satisfactory conversation with the Federal Government of Canada, and we hope our stay in New Zealand will be equally productive of good results. We believe that the essential and basic principles of the Land Settlement Act (passed at Westminster many years ago) are equally true to-day. We still wish to send the right people, and you still wish to have them. The distribution of the white population within the Empire is a most difficult problem, and it is becoming more serious day by

day. As we see other nations growing up around us, I do trust that jye may be able to bring the well-thought out idea which is held equally in all parts of the Empire to a workable scheme.” He added: “We do not come with any preconceived ideas. We hope to . discuss with your Government the .settlement of the white population within the Empire.” Asked what effect this immigration would have on labour, Lord Lovat said: “There is no reason why it should not adjust the labour market.” New jobs were found, and new openings were created by the very fact of a number of men coming into the country. Questioned in regard to the recent Ottawa cablegram stating that the Canadian Immigration Department are considering a proposal by the British Government for the settlement of 20,000 British families on Canadian farms, Lord Lovat said: “It is all wrong. It is inaccurate throughout. There is no authority for it. I cannot comment thereon, as this matter is under discussion at the present time.” Lord Lovat was also entertained by the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Society at luncheon. He leaves for Hamilton to-morrow night.