BRITISH IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17275, 26 September 1919, Page 6

BRITISH IMMIGRANTS.

The urgent importance of an immediate review of the Government's immigration policy is emphasised by the communication published to-day from Mr. T. E. Sedgwick, one of the most earnest and practical advocates of settlement within the Empire. An offer has been made by the Imperial Government to pay the fares of all ex-service men and their families who desire to migrate to the Overseas Dominions, and the scheme includes all who served in the subsidiary naval operations and j members of the women's corps. As Mr. Sedgwick observes, a splendid ■ opportunity is offered to the Dominions to gain the new population that all of them require for their development, and to co-operate with Britain in guiding the flow" of migration so that its full benefit will be preserved for the Empire. The Imperial Government's scheme will tend to create a great volume of emigration in the coming year, and only those Dominions that have an organisation ready to co-operate with the Imperial machinery can expect to select their immigrants with strict regard to their suitability. It may be expected" that the soldiers and sailors with the highest degree of initiative and resourcefulness will lead the exodus from Britain, and men of this stamp are most needed in New Zealand. Various limitations imposed by the Imperial Government offer opportunity for assistance by the Dominions. Free passages for the families of ex-service men will not include sons of over 16 years or daughters of over 18 years, but, as Mr. Sedgwick suggests, the payment of the fares by a Dominion Government for these young people would secure the migration of a family that might otherwise abandon its intention of proceeding overseas. New Zealand needs and can readily absorb large numbers of skilled artisans, miners and labourers, women and girls for factory and domestic work, and youths of both sexes to be trained in its growing industries. Above all, it requires settlers to cultivate its idle, lands. The shortage of labour in other occupations cannot be satisfied by the activities of the Repatriation Department, and the relief that is so necessary must be sought by a judicious policy of co-operation with the Imperial authorities. There is a clear responsibility upon the Gov- j ernment, towards the Empire and the Dominion, to join in this scheme. and to provide adequate facilities for the absorption of New Zealand's full --hare in this prospective distri button of Britain's surplus population.