SELECTING IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 8

SELECTING IMMIGRANTS.

SOME PROPOSED REFORMS.

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Friday. Tire Hon H. D. 801 l was waited on this morning by a deputation from the Dunedin Expansion League, which drew the attention of the Minister to the needs of the* province on various points, viz. : (1) Absence of any branch of the Immigration Department in Dunedin, suggesting that the local officer of the Tourist Department might carry out this work; (2) suggesting that the present system of selecting immigrants in England is not satisfactory; (3) suggesting that clerks from each of the four provinces might be placed in the High Commissioner's office to give exact and expert information in regard to local conditions in this country; (4) that assisted immigrnats should not be retained in undue proportion in the North Island, but should be shipped alternately in steamers making South Island ports their first port of call. The Minister, in reply, said the deputation had referred to the demand for labour for manufactories, but against this they had the strong body of public feeling in the country against the introduction of labour which might compete with those who were here. The Government had considered that issue, and would not hesitate when they came to a determination. Until that issue • was determined there would be no additional expenditure of Government money for other purposes than those to which it was applied by their predecessors for years. Mr. _ Allen was going Home fully equipped with_ information on the subject of immigration, and the deputation would see that it was impossible for him to tell them anything of what the Government meant to do. All lie could say was that better methods would be introduced. The other matters Brought forward would receive consideration.