IMMIGRATION PLAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 17 April 1944, Page 4

IMMIGRATION PLAN

EARLY ACTION URGED

DOMINION SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION Wellington. This Day. Immigration is stated by the Prime Minister, in a reply to the Dominion T Settlement Association’s representations Cor a plan which can be immediately operative after the war, to be receiving the. attention of the Government with a view to planning organised immigration after adequate provision has been made for the men of the fighting forces. “A good deal of reconstruction will be necessary, and measures to ensure security of employment under good conditions, together with adequate re muneration and the elimination ul the danger of unemployment, are absolutely essential if an immigration scheme is to be carried out wij.h fairness and advantage both to the people already in the Dominion and those whom we invite tu join us here and to share the , work and benefits of the development ( of the country,” said the Prime Minis- . ter. ( The chairman of the association, Mr - A. Leigh Hunt, in reply, said that the . association did not ask the Governmpnt to take any precipitate action in , the matter, but urged that it should j immediately set up the necessary committees to enable planning and in* vestigution to proceed without delay. Other Dominions had already taken this move, and there was a possibility of New Zealand being left badly behind in the matter unless steps were taken immediately. GOVERNMENT LEAD AWAITED “We make bold to say,” the.letter added, "that in connection with this vital question you ore evidently not in touch with the vast majority of people throughout the Dominion, who are eagerly awaiting a lead from the Government to enable them to exert their chief energies toward the goal to greater population. "When Mr Curtin, the Prime Minister of Australia, announced his intention to journey to the Mother Country, the first question asked of him was whether he would investigate the possibilities of influx of orphan children, llis reply was that he, personally, would bo too engrossed in international affairs to undertake this work, but that he would arrange for the High Commissioner to do so. It is obvious, therefore, that he was convinced that, notwithstanding the many pressing issues awaiting consideration, this urgent matter should receive the early attention it deserves. “In your letter you indicate that even the question of planning the immigration must wait till after th’e settlement of our returning fighting services is completed. Surely both can proceed simultaneously. In any cose the actual introduction of juvenile immigrants cannot injuriously affect the progress of that admittedly important work. On the other hand, one might well ask what prospects the returning fighting services will have if by lack of prompt action this country misses its opportunity of largely increasing its population. “It is unthinkable that we should offer as a reward to our fighting men the opportunity, after having fought for their country, to return and endure the calamitous results of depopulation, which can be briefly summed up as national insecurity, crushing debt burden, inability of the country to honour its commitments in social security, pensions, superanuations, etc., because of the undue proportion of aged people which form an oppressive burden on the shoulders of youth. “In conclusion, therefore, we beg of you, before you depart from New Zealand, to grant the absolutely reasonable facilities we requested of you, so that when you return the work of investigation and planning will have advanced to some degree.” RETURNED MEN FIRST Mr Fraser’s reply deprecated the suggestion that he was not in touch with the vast majority of people throughout New Zealand. He considered that his opportunities and avenues of contact with the people of New Zealand were much wider than that of any particular society and was quite sure that the opinion of the majority of the people of New Zealand was that the men who had suffered and fought for freedom must have first thought in settling their own country before immigration schemes were embarked upon. “I have no doubt,” he said, “that during my visit to the United Kingdom the question of immigration from there to New Zealand will be discussed and my attitude, on behalf of the Government, will be that, following settlement of our own service men and women, a generous invitation will be extended to those of our Mother Country who desire to come to New Zealand.” The Minister in Charge of Broadcasting, the Hon. D. Wilson, in response to a request for radio facilities, said that it had been deemed advisable to postpone radio talks on the subject till after the return of the Prime Minister.