TOO MANY IMMIGRANTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 37

TOO MANY IMMIGRANTS.

COUNCIL OF WOMEN’S OPINION. CHRISTCHURCH, March 2. The immigration question was discussed to-day by the National Council of Women of New Zealand. Miss Hull (Christchurch) moved: That the council is of opinion that, while increased population of a healthy and suitable type is necessary for the advancement of New Zealand, the Government should not urge increased immigration without making provision to absorb the immigrants by adequate housing and suitable employment. She said that immigrants should be assured of employment when they arrived, and they should know the conditions under which they would live. The large numbers brought out by the Government bad caused unemployment. ' They believed they were coming to a land flowing with milk and honey, but found little or no work for them to do. Miss M. England (Wellington) said that the Dominion should make sure that the immigrants were the right type. New Zealand herself was producing a really intelligent and physically fit type. Anybody who had had anything to do with the immigrants at the Charitable Aid Boards, or when they sought work, should be asked if they felt that the immigrants were the type of persons suitable and necessary. The authorities should be quite sure that increased immigration was desirable - before more immigrants were brought out. Mrs K. Downing (Dunedin) said that although the immigrants might not be of the right type physically and mentally, they belonged to the British Empire. They had as much right to live in New Zealand, which was part of the Empire, as in England, and New Zealand should be prepared to absorb them. Delegates: Oh, no. The motion was carried.