THE THREATENED INFLUX

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 6

THE THREATENED INFLUX

The squatters’ organ, which unquestionably is much better informed concerning the intentions of the Government policy than the Hon. AY. P. Massey is, has been furnishing some illuminating in fjo lunation relative to the reasons for importing 25,000 immigrants annually. Mr Massey assured the country that ho intended to place these immigrants on the land, forgetting that he had no land on which to place them, and equally ignoring the awkward fact that even if he had the land these immigrants would be possessed of no money with which to buy freeholds. But the squatters’ journal, which is directed by the coterie that really handles the reins of political power, is more candid. It says the human importations are intended to maxo good the scarcity of form labourers, domestic servants, and factory hands. We thougnt as much. The money of the country is to be used to furnish the larger employers with cheaper labour and plenty of it. With abundance of labour, lower wages will follow as a natural sequence, inow, it probably is the fact that in certain trades'there is a scarcity of labour, and there undoubtedly is a shortage of experienced farm hands, but this does not call for anything like 25,000 newcomers annually, touch a policy may benefit the large employers, but it will create a burden for the middle classes, it will bring the working classes face to face with competition for employment, and must naturally force down the rate of wages. There must, of necessity, be depression, unemployment, and hard times unless the number of employers is proportionately increased, and nothing is being done in this direction. The squatters’ organ argues that the more the land is made to yield the greater will be the wealth produced. But the squatters, for whom this cheap labour is being indiscriminately imported, do not cultivate their land. They do not plough the soil, they raise no crops, and the labour they require is only employed at busy seasons, such as that of shearing. If the legitimate farmer, the dairyman, the cultivate!* of the soil, requires more labour, we say by all means find it for him in sufficient volume. But let the influx end at that. No good l purpose can be served by flooding town , and country with penniless immigrants, eager to work at any wages that are offering, thus lowering the standard of wages and comfort, at a moment when public land settlement is practically stopped. This is a policy that will react on the business community as well as the working classes. But, after all, what does the squatter care, and he is in power?