THE IMMIGRATION POLICY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 18

THE IMMIGRATION POLICY.

CHRISTCHURCH, JanuaTy 27. The Canterbury Trades and Labouf Council is strongly opposed to the immi* gration policy of the Government, and afi the meeting of the council held on Saturday the folowing motion wa3 unanimously agreed to : — " That the council strongly protest against any scheme of immigration by the Government on the grounds that men and women in our own factories are unable to obtair* anything like constant employment ; fur* ; ther, we consider it would not only be un« j just to the workers of the Dominion, but j unjust to the immigrants, -who weuld have to compete with our fellow workers for tha right to live by work, thereby reducing; wages and prejudicing national conditions."' 1 It was resolved to refer the matter to all' j Trade Councils in the Dominion, and ta request them to bring the subject under the notice of the affiliated unions. A committee consisting of the Hon. John: Barr and Messrs E. Howard and R. T. Bailey was set up to draft a leter and forward same to the newspapers in the United? Kingdom concerning the conditions of tho labour market in the Dominion. The views of Mr J. E. March, tKo Government immigration agent, who of ! course is an authority on the work ofi his department, are not those of the Trades Council. Mr March left for Wellington on Saturday night to meet the immigrants who are expected to arrive on Wednesday by the Corinthio, and in conversation with a Teporter he eaid that from previous experience he was quite satisfied thafi they would all be placed without difficult-*. There was a great demand, especially ml the North Island, for labourers _on farms and dairies, and a large proportion of tha newcomers were labourers who filled re« quirements in that direction.

A cemetery adjoins the Newton Easii School, and as there is no fence in between! tho children extend their olayground intdt the city of the dead. It was suggested afi the Education Board that a. fence bet erected, but the chairman indicated that* those concerned with the management ofi the cemetery were unwilling to bear theic half of the cost.

There are only 23 houses in Napier! Borough unconnected with the sewer, and! an effort is to be made to have them connected at onc«i