CO-ORDINATED IMMIGRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17662, 24 December 1920, Page 6

CO-ORDINATED IMMIGRATION.

British Governments are usually loath to reccommend emigration as a direct cure for unemployment, preferring to conserve population and tide over periods of distress with relief schemes. Since, however, Mr. Lloyd George has suggested emigration as a remedy for the widest-spread unemployment experienced in twelve years, the Dominions should not be slow to meet him. There is still considerable room for conference as to the Dominions' immigration needs and preferences. They do not wish the unemployable or the flotsam of the British labour market., but it may be assumed that by far the largest proportion of Britain's unemployed are both able and willing to work. Among them the Dominions should be able to absorb a substantial percentage of such men and women. In New Zealand our special need is for men who are willing to do the hard, pioneering work of a new country, to make roads, excavate railway tracks, and prepare land for cultivation. The combined activities of the Public Works Department, with its railway and hydro-electric schemes, J

o and the Working Railways Departe ment, with its projected improvee ments of the existing system, guaran- [- tee an almost unlimited market for - unskilled labour for many years. l- The Dominion can take other classes [1 of immigrants, but our preference g must be for men, skilled or unit skilled, who are prepared to carry i- civilisation into our back blocks, and :- such men need never lack work in e this country. With reasonable cos ordination between British and if Dominion Governments very exten- ; sive emigration can take place to e the benefit of all, but with lack of coh ordination—such as is evidenced n by the despatch of New Zealand emis grants to Australia, to complete , their voyage as best they may— e emigration may but cure one evil to d create another. S