WHAT IMMIGRATION IS FOR

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 1, 3 January 1923, Page 1

WHAT IMMIGRATION IS FOR

Recruiting Unemployed -Aiiny—To'

The Mapriland Worker has said repeatedly that" the purpose of assisted immigration is to create in Australasia a ''margin of unemployment" which may be utilised to reduce Trade Unionism to powerlessness and break wages to poverty point. Facts accumulate which confirm this point of view. First, we have that narrow-minded P.P.A. bigot, the Honourable Nosworthy, shouting out in Parliament that immigration, is the "only policy that ■will .bring , to reason those who. are ..trying.' to stop people from working in this country 7 ' —a piece of candour from which but one meaning can be drawn. Then we have"Mr. Forsyth, the Tory candidate in Wellington East, hissing at several of his meetings that immigration ' was needed to ''put a stop to stop-work meetings." And now we have a Press Association message which not only reveals the motive of our iiimiigrationists in its stark nakedness, but displays them in all their brassfaced arrogance. This message, dated December 13, is from Auckland, a"nd after describing the difficulty experienced by the "Moeraki" in getting away from Sydney, says:— "Last week volunteer stokehold crews were engaged, but tht deckhands refused .to sail with them. The deckhands wen, arrested and sentenced to seven days' gaol.. THEIR PLACSBS WERE TAKEN BY VOLUNTEER SEAMEN, MOSTLY UNEMPLOYED BKITISHKItS, KEPT IN «ipADINE£S." As an example of callousness this will be hard to rival. These ".unemployed Britishers'' were enticed here with fairy, tales about the Arcadian conditions alleged to exist. To pay their fares Australasian Avorkers were taxed through the Customs—■ actually compelled to provide the money so that they migbt; compete Australasians out of their employment. And.when arrived it was to suffer such poverty as forced them to scab on men fighting -to improve their conditions. If, after this, anyone believes that immigration is urged foi the benefit of the British Empire, verily his name is Dubb.