IMMIGRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18198, 18 September 1922, Page 10

IMMIGRATION.

Sir, —There is a good deal of talk about immigration just now, but considerable difference of opinion is revealed. This country, with its magnificent resources. needs population and Bhould be able to abatorb thousands of new settlere every year. But under existing arrangements and the temporary financial airess, it is a cruel thing to tempt people from the Old Land and then leave them stranded here. The Government facilities are mci-t inadequate and there are v.o un Itcial organisations doing efficient work. ihe reception accorded to many of the newcorners is most disheartening and some of the titles used are very irritating. All over New South Wales they lavcbtwi forming new settlers' league- t,» w«.'c<..r« c the immigrant* and givo them help and advice until liiey get satisfactorily settled. This is as' it should be. These neo|ple need -tieph(;rdia£ from the time they leave their'home centres until they have been :?ome months in the Dominion and found their feet in satisfactory situations. The contact with our cKki;*ls now endai just after the people leave the boat In view of the housing difficulty places like the Narrow N T «ck camp should be placed at the disp >«al of new arrivals until they find pi-.per accommodation. TnofT-cial organis'lions shcuid be formed in every cerUre to give h:lp and advice to ail clashes of settlers A "overnmeht representative might be associated, with the leagues arid their activities subsidised by the State. Sympathetic introductions to all the activities of colonial industrial and social Jife are what will be most appreciated. There is too persistent a complaint that people cannot be put on to reasonably priced land through Government channels. The land blockade is what is mainly holding up development to-day. It is no use crying out about tb» unused Crown and native lands. There iB more than sufficient "owned" but unused land lying near our cities and railWays. Until some method is used to loosen the stranglehold of land speculators this country's progress is going to be seriously retarded. Idle lands mean idle hands. This is one of the causes of unemployment, The Government must stand some of the blame for the ridiculous heights to which land values have been boosted. By its entrance into the market as a land buyer for soldiers' farms it has rendered the greatest disservice to the soldiers and all genuine would-be farmers- Another thing which is retarding development ia the financial tightness caused by the unduly high taxation of the Government. By* its high income taxation the Government has unwittingly withdrawn private capital which might have been available for development and in reduction of unemployment. As everv new arrival should be a potential purchaser of all kinds of products, under normal conditions they should help to create , jobs. Every settler arriving with capital adds to the national wealth and is another bearer of our national debt of £218 per head. This is one way of spreading the burden. A report was sent out from England recently stating that many families would like to send their boys out here with capital if there were desirable places where they could learn farming under safe conditions. It is a serious reflection on our country that no such places are available. In order to properly acclimatise new arrivals the Government, municipalities, or a combination of both with private enterprise should provide village settlements which should even be self supporting concerns. They would provide an opportunity for people to get their feet and watch out for suit-able openings. Surely many of the huts at the military training camp? could ; be rnade av." ; i,'i n f or e re nf ion in village .settlements or even on u&im-

proved land, where the co-operative purchase of machinery and other supplies could be made. It should be profitable for the Government to pay the settlers for their labour during the opening-up periwL' The settlors* -would then bo earning while they are learning and tho country would be getting land brought into cultivation, the State should provide twining areas throughout the country in order to cover the primary industries and cattle, sheep, dairying, fruit, and cropping farms be set aside according t'o character of tlio district. As our natural margin of increase is ton slow »ve must look to overseas for additional ' population while conditions have been feo bad in the- Old Country. -Now is the time when the Dominion could make Vnse choice of new settlers. If we are not able to take the flooa tide of immigration! during the next year or two it will drift elscwhe/tJ and many people may be lost to the JSmpire. Let us therefore, seti our house irr x>rder now. so that when times are better' we shall have the comtplete organisation and facilities ready po take sdecfUUte care of our quota of# new settlers. G. M. FmvLns* JU.v-