IMMIGRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 8

IMMIGRATION

ENDORSED BY CHAMBERS DOMINION’S MAN-POWER NEED P.A. WELLINGTON, May 28. “The Minister of Immigration and the Government are to be congratulated on the arrangements which have been made for bringing to New Zealand immigrants from Britain over the next two years and a-half,” says the Associated Chambers of Commerce In a statement to-day. “Man-power is one of our scarcest commodities, and with 24,000 vacant jobs awaiting workers, 9600 migrants by the end of 1949 will be small enough relief. “In 1946 the permanent departures from New Zealand were approximately equal to the permanent arrivals, while the excess of births over deaths for the same year—although showing an upward movement —represented a population increase of less than 2 per cent. These figures show how heavily New Zealand must depend on immigrants to relieve both its immediate and its long-term population needs. “The present plans for bringing in more people are none the less welcome, and it is to be hoped the Government will take full advantage of the first opportunity to increase the numbers. British stock is best, but we should not be so insular as to exclude the consideration of desirable immigrants from other lands. If our laws in any way restrict that, let us alter our laws.”