MR FRASER’S VIEWS

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1944, Page 4

MR FRASER’S VIEWS

ON IMMIGRATION Rehabilitation First (Rec. 11.55.) LONDON, May 13 The Dominion Prime Ministers recorded their on immigration at the Commonwealth Conference, at its last meeting in the second ween. The problems and principles emphasised bv New Zealand have much in common with those put forward uy other Dominions, and it is expected that further examination of this subject will be made bv a special Commonwealth committee. Mr. Fraser has referred to immigration several times, in the course of press interviews, since ius arrival in the United Kingdom. Briefly the views he expressed publicly, may be summarised as follows: New Zealond recognises the importance of having a larger population, not only for the development of the natural resources of the Dominion, upon which its high standard of living depends, but also for security reasons. However, until the immediate post-war economic situation is clarified, especially in regard to the extreme shortage of housing, it is not, at this stage. In a position to formulate plans for immigration to cover the period of demobilisation and readjustment of industry, in the immediate post-war period. The New Zealand Government is emphatic that its first duty is the housing and rehabilitation of tens of thousands of New Zealand servicemen and until this duty is fulfilled it could not encourage the belief that the country would be in a position, immediately after the war, to absorb large numbers of immigrants. If it may be possible, under Some planned system, tt> bring to New Zealand, quantities of machinery for various industrial enterprises, then it would certainly be feasible and desirable to bring operatives with the machines, and to assure them of good living prospects, but the only main difficulty of such a scheme is that the UnitecT Kingdom will be anxious to keep for her own immense task of reconstruction the very type of migrant who would be •most useful in New Zealand. Mr. Fraser also made a point in public statements and emphasised to the conference that, when inTTfilgration does become possible, those men who have fought side by side with our own troops, such as the Fifty-first Division and airmen and sailors, would be assured of a warm welcome in New Zealand. He also reiterated the willingness of the Dominion to consider favourably any proposals for reciprocity of social security for similar benefits, Zealand and other nations of the Commonwealth. He has stated, publicly, that New Zealand’s Minister of Social Security had specially requested him to discuss this and to explore the possibility of laying the foundations for reciprocity between Britain and New Zealand. This week’s meeting here, brought the total of conference sessions to fifteen, involving over thirty hours of discussion on all phases q£_.war strategy and manv aspects of postwar reconstruction. The conference will continue next week.

In Edinburgh MR. FRASER GIVEN FREEDOM

OF iCITY. (Official News Service.) LONDON, May 13. After a visit of only a' few hours to Edinburgh, where he received the freedom of the city, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, flew back to the south of England by special plane, yesterday, to join a party of Prime Ministers, inspecting invasion preparations with Mr. Churchill. Mr. Fraser was piloted by a New Zealander in the R.A.F., Flight Lieutenant Jordan of Palmerston North. He went to the airport straight from the freedom ceremony, where he had been made one of the burgesses of Edinburgh, the others being the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Anderson, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr. Tom Johnston. Lord Provost, Sir William Darling presided and* Mrs. Fraser and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan were present. Introducing Mr. Fraser, the Provost described New Zealand as a second Scotland. “Scottish in its foundation; Scottish in its heart and its head.” Mr. Fraser recalled old associations between New Zealand and Scotland, and thanked the people for the hospitality so generously extended to men from New Zealand. He added “nowhere on the earth are our men received with greater friendship, nor do they feel more at home,, than in Scotland.” He referred to the comradeship in arms of Scottish and Dominion troops in the Middle East. While Mr. Fraser flew south to rejoin Mr. Churchill and other Dominion leaders, Mrs. Fraser inspected three service clubs in Edinburgh, where many New Zealand servicemen had been made welcome. .