IMMIGRATION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 12 September 1921, Page 3

IMMIGRATION

LABOUR PAIiTY

WANTS IT

STOPPED

ACTING-PREMIER MAKES Si'IIUTEL) ItIiPLS:.

CllY TKLKOUAI'H —I'ttKSS ASSOCIATION.; WELLINGTON, Sep. 9. Doaling with the question of immigration 1,0-day before a Labour depu- , tutiou, Sir i'lanciß Bell asked if no members of tho deputation* had. nominated any immigrant. No one responded. Sir Fraiias Bell said ho was surprised at this. He explained that it had been the practico for tho people iv tho country to nominate friends and relatives to como to this country before and during tho war. Hundreds of such nominations wore made and passage money paid. Nominators wore required to undertake to find employment and accommodation for immigrants they nominated. Theßo nominations accumulated during tho war, as immigrants could not be brought out, and after the war the Government was abused for accepting passage money from nominators and not providing shipping to bring immigrants out. The greater number of the people who were coming out now had thoir passage money paid a, long time ago, and tho Government had no right to stop them from coming. Mr Fraser produced a copy of a circular from the High Commissioner's office, staling that employment was guaranteed under the overseas settlement scheme.

Sir Francis Jiell said ho had not seen tin's circular previously. It was dated 1920. He would have it enquired into. He added that they woro not giving assisted passages, other than to those who had been nominated by friends who undertook to find employment and accommodation for them. Tho Imperial Government was paying the passage money of ex-service mea and their families, and it had been a bitter thing for the Now Zealand G«rornment to do, but it had been done, to ask the Imperial Government to limit these passages to men for whom work and accommodation could be guaranteed. It had been a bitter thing for the Govornment to close the doors of this country,.to any extent to thoir kith and kin in the Mother Country—Englishmen who had fougkt for England. "But supposing the Imperial Government had not agreed to the request of tho New Zealand Government? T tell you, gentlemen, that so long as I am a member of the Government I shall never say that the shores of the country are closed to Englishmen, who have as much right to come her© as we."

Members of the deoutation said that this was not suggested. Sir Francis Bell said that he was very glad to hear it.

Mr Mack said that the deputation did not mind if half England came here, so long ns accommodation and employment could bo found for them Sir Francis Bell said that the Imperial Government paid the passages of these men and their families, and the New Zealand Government had nothing to do with them, excerit that it had made a request that had limited the number of those coming out. If it was said that it was an unfortunate time even for nominated immigrants to come to the country he agreed with them, but the Government had no power-to s|op those who had paid their passages from coming out. Mr Mack: You have jDower to tell them the truth of the position here. Sir Francis Bell said this remark was not fair from Mr Mack. He would not tell them that there was no employment and no accommodation when that was not a fact, as it was guaranteed. in every case. He would say that there was a chance of their displacing someone else, but that would not prevent them coming out. Sir Francis Bell concluded by saying that he had tried to put the position before them fairly, and it would be unfair if members of the deputation went away and said that they had learnt nothing. In three weeks' time they would be able to get a more authoritative declaration than he could give.

Mr J. Roberts: We will bring along the unemployed then. Sir Francis Bell said it would be better if they would try to help the Government.

Mr Roberts said his remark was not intended as a threat. Their statement of the position had not been accepted, and they would bring along proof. He said they came for something definite, and nothing had been promised. Sir Francis Bell said nothing had been promised b«*ause the Government was now doing everything it pos- , sibly could. He was disappointed that not one speaker recognised that. Mr Monteith asked if money for assisted passages could not be better used to give assistance in this country.

Sir Franci Bell said that might be so as far as those not already nominated, and in a position to claim a passage, were concerned, but for -others it would be a breach of contract. Mr Monteith said he made this as a.helpful suggestion, and he asked if the Government would stop assisted passages from now on.Sir Francis Bell said he could not answer this at once.

Mr Mack thanked the Ministers for receiving the deputation. They had learned a great deal. When Mr Massey arrived he would no doubt have a more vivid idea of what unemployment meant than they had in this country.