SETTLING THE COUNTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 November 1924, Page 5

SETTLING THE COUNTRY.

FINDING NEW MARKETS. (BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) •d vi- WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. .Publicity and commercial development formed the subject of resolutions passed by the Dominion Conference of Chambers of Commerce to-day. Th ®, f ohowmg resolutions were'passed: . Alla “ the conference affirms the desire of chambers of commerce to cooperate with the Government in advancing the interests of the Dominion by securing further publicity abroad, and is of opinion that the subject is of such importance that, in the interests of the future welfare of this country, the expenditure in' this direction should be reviewed to meet the ever-growing public demand for greater publicity overseas for New Zealand. With a/view’ to the development of further markets fo'r our primary products and of establishing exchange of trade on sound reciprocal lines, this conference is of opinion that it is advisable to have a resident agent in Canada and the United States of America —practical trade commissioners, who could act also as tourist and publicity officers. That following the close of the British Empire Exhibition, concerted special measures be taken to impress on British capitalists the Dominion’s potentialities for the investment of capital with a view to inducing their active participation in the institution and expansion of secondary, industries and the working of undeveloped resources within the Dominion; and that His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in New Zealand be requested to; co-operate in putting forward this suggestion. That tourist traffic be energetically developed by improving the tourist resort accommodation, highways and railways. That the Dominion should adopt a well considered and progressive policy to secure a largely increased number of suitable migrants annually from the United Kingdom, and in order that this matter may be dealt with in a co-ordin-ated and energetic manner, the Government be urged to set up a permanent immigration commission to work in conjunction with the Immigration Department, and, if necessary, to reorganise the New Zealand Immigration Department in England. The commission would — (a) Arrange for regularly obtaining and disseminating information of the labour requirements of the primary and secondary industries of the Dominion. (b) Report on the unoccupied lands in New Zealand available for settlement and the amount of land held in large blocks but suitable for sub-divi-sion and intensive cultivation. (c) Be enabled to take advantage of the offer of assistance by the Imperial Government under the Overseas Settlement Acti. (d) Organise, a system which will effectively stand behind emigrants after their arrival during the first difficult period. That the Government be asked to bring in a scheme for the more equitable distribution of assisted immigrants, and that they be given the option, before leaving the United Kingdom, of choosing any of the twelve principal boroughs of New Zealand or country contiguous thereto as their destination, and that there, shall be no differentiation in cost to immigration.