THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Thursday, May 29, 1947. AN IMMIGRATION SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Thursday, May 29, 1947. AN IMMIGRATION SCHEME

In February of this year the Minister of Immigration, Mr McLagan, made a preliminary announcement of an immigration scheme for New Zealand. Negotiations have been carried on with the British Government since then, and it is now stated that a scheme of assisted immigration for single men and women will be put into operation this year. This information is to be welcomed as evidence that the report of the i''' 1 Population Committee has not been lost to sight, but it must be remarked that this is only a shortterm scheme. With the housing problem still far from being solved, and perhaps for other reasons, the Government has not shown any sign of preparing a long term scheme such as is necessary for the' development of this country. It is interesting to notice in this connection that it was also announced yesterday that the Dominion Settlement and Population Association is to hold a conference in the near future at which efforts will be made to further the adoption of an immigration policy which will rpeet both the immediate and the future needs of the Dominion. In the circumstances it would appear that the plan announced by the Government is the best way to make a commencement. It should ensure that, the, type of immigrant most urgently needed will be introduced first, and it should also provide a real test of the potentialities of Great Britain as a source of population. Though many inquiries have been made at New Zealand House by prospective migrants, the other Dominions have already been active in endeavouring to attract population, and by this time many of the best type of inquirers may have decided to go elsewhere. Mr McLagan has rightly expressed appreciation of the helpful and co-operative attitude of the United Kingdom Government. Great Britain is herself suffering from a serious labour shortage—particularly in the coal, cotton, textile and agricultural industries and in recent months efforts have been made to attract labour from the Continent. In these circumstances it is natural that the British Government must exercise some control over drains caused by emigration, and this may operate against the full success of the present scheme. The Minister has stated that a commencement will be made by recruiting female staff for public hospitals, and that the inclusion of other categories of workers for essential industries is still under discussion with the United Kingdom authorities. There will be some interest in what is regarded as “ essential industry” in this country. When the subject of immigration was discussed some time ago representative manufacturers pointed out that the Government should concentrate on attracting labour for hydro-electric works, transport, housing and factory accommodation before embarking on further industrial expansion of the sort which had unbalanced the labour market and produced the present desperate need for workers.

In view of the Government’s expressed attitude to the future of agriculture in this country, it is unlikely that any attempt will be made to attract workers for the land, but this is one subject to which the forthcoming conference might devote some attention. The possibility of attracting desirable types of. migrants from north-west Europe is another suggestion which should be examined, and it is possible that the policy of introducing child migrants from Europe, which was operated during the war, might be continued advantageously. Domestic labour and junior farm labour could certainly be obtained by such means, and at the same time the Dominion would be making a practical gesture of assistance to the distressed populations of the Continent.

CAR IMPORTS

It was reported in our columns a few days ago that because of an import control technicality 156 new American cars, ordered by New Zealand dealers on their 1946 quota, would now be deducted from the .quota for 1947. The public of New Zealand will, therefore, be deprived of 156 urgently needed cars this year unless the authorities can be persuaded to reconsider • what appears to have been an unnecessarily literal interpretation of the regulations. The need to conserve dollar funds by denying extravagant purchases in America must be recognised, but these vehicles formed part of a quota which the Government had authorised, and for which it was prepared to make funds available. The strict enforcement of the regulations in this case will be regarded by the dealers concerned as another example of the departmental pin-pricking with which the whole business community has become so unhappily familiar. Most motor dealers in New Zealand since 1939 have been on lean rations, and reputable firms to-day face many difficulties in maintaining a service to the public while coping with the problems of supply, shipping and import control. The greater the assistance given to these dealers, the sooner will the trade generally be in a position to impose its own check on some of the reprehensible methods of car trading by which not a few dealers are exploiting the present shortage. TT , . , The New Zealand Motor Vehicle Importers’ Association, in a statement issued last year, estimated that the importation of 30,000 vehicles annually for several years would be necessary to restore the transport position to what it was in 1938. At [ the time the statement was issued, 90 per cent, of all motor vehicles in the country were more than five years old, 40 per cent, more than ten years old, and 20 per cent, more than 15 years old. Ninety-two per

cent, of the light trucks then in operation were more than five years old, and 60 per cent, more than ten years old. In the public interest the least serviceable of these old vehicles should be withdrawn from use as soon as possible, and transportation, both commercial and private, restored to its former state of efficiency. The all-round increase in the value of import licences for 1947 which was announced recently was a welcome gesture by the Government towards assisting the recovery of the transport industry and the motor trade generally, but a liberal and sympathetic interpretation of the regulations will be required before dealers will find it possible to take full advantage of the increased allocations.