WORLD MIGRATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22935, 13 January 1938, Page 8

WORLD MIGRATION

EXPERTS TO CONIES # CONFERENCE AT GENEVA $ GATHERING NEXT MONTH T The International Labour Office haa officially informed all Governments ia. terested of the decision of its govern-? ing body to convene a technical conference of experts at Geneva, on Febru-' ary 28, to study the problem of techni-. cal and financial international cooperation with regard to migration for settlement. This meeting will mark a. new stage in the development of the activity of the office in this matter. The world economic depression greatly reduced the possibilities of international action with regard to tho movement of workers from one country to another. As a result of restrictive measures takeri almost everywhere, under the influence) of this depression, with tho object of reserving the decreasing opportunities, of employment for national worker! migration movements were checked* and, in some cases, even reversed. It happened in several cases that during this period countries which usually absorbed large numbers of foreign immigrants had more departure!) than arrivals; and, also, traditionally emigration countries became countries where the immigrants exceeded emigrants. _ , During this period of disturbance the International Labour Office continued its studies of the migration problem, in readiness for a more propitious time for international collaboration. Thus careful research on the question of recruiting, placing and conditions of employment of migrant wage-earners has enabled this problem to be placed before the oonference with a view to the adoption of international regulations, it is on the agenda of the 1938 session, which will open on June 2 at Geneva. The participating Governments have been asked to send as representatives to the conference specialists who, by reason of their present or previous work in connection with migration and settlement, possess the necessary Competence to enable the conference to make practical proposals on the subject.