SUITABLE EMIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26531, 5 August 1947, Page 4

SUITABLE EMIGRANTS

Much has been said of New Zealand’s immigration policy, which is to be put into operation this year. Less consideration appears to have been given to the suitability of the immigrants to be selected. While one man’s opinion may not be taken as wholly correct, a recentlypublished letter to a Dunedin resident from an Englishman with a distinguished record of service in two wars must give rise to some misgivings. Briefly, the view of the writer is that the average hardworking citizen of Great Britain is prepared to put his shoulder to the. wheel and endure the present difficult conditions in the hope of better things to come. On the other hand, less stable members of the community are more likely to be influenced by the glowing tales of life in the Dominion as disseminated by publicity bureaux and, to , a lesser extent, by members of the New Zealand forces who served in Great Britain during the war. The fact that New Zealand has been a late starter in the field of immigration must give colour to these opinions. The other Dominions were already active in endeavouring .to encourage population while the Government of this country was still vacillating. It is only to be expected that many of the best type of prospective immigrants may, before the New Zealand scheme was announced, have made 'up their minds to go elsewhere. The work of those responsible for the selection of immigrants from the ranks of the numerous inquirers will thus be exceedingly difficult, and the greatest care will be needed to ensure thati the persons chosen are suitable to the industrial and social needs of the Dominion. However dire the shortage of labour it would be folly indeed to allow into the country people whose outlook and ideals are not in conformity with the maxim, “An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.” That to many British people New Zealand appears as little short of a paradise on earth is undoubtedly true. The New Zealanders who saw service in the Homeland during the war allowed few opportunities to pass when it came to singing the praises of the land of their birth. Commendable as their loyalty was, it was inevitable that there should be a certain amount of overstatement regarding the merits of New' Zealand as an abode. Whatever sha'de of political opinion the serviceman professed, his nostalgic longings prompted him to overlook a great many defects and drawbacks and to concentrate on the advantages of life in this country. That aspirations were roused in the minds of many British people weary of the war cannot be doubted. Those who may apply for admission to New Zealand in the belief that the Government will keep, them in luxury, whether or not; they find ; employment to their liking, must be disillusioned. It would be better to ■ admit fewer than the desired number 1 of immigrants than to make the ■ mistake of allowing into the country people not prepared to pull their ! weight, .