IMMIGRATION POLICY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 7

IMMIGRATION POLICY.

TOO MUCH APATHY. WELLINGTON. March 1. Some outspoken remarks abput immigrants, the “White Australia” policy ami kindred subjects were made by Dr Ingram, Bishop of London, when addressing a gathering in Wellington to-day. The Bishop addressed the members of the New Zealand Club vesterday when he made reference to Ihe subjects of immigration and ihe l.caguo <3f Nations. Living as he had done in the East of London for so many years, said Dr Ingram, he had made a practice of nailing a lie to the counter as soon as he found it. It had been recently said that Great Britain was a decaying nation, and he wanted to urge with all the force he had that never did Great Britain stand stronger in the councils of the work! than she did to-day. A prominent politician had made a statement to the effect that what we demanded was that this young nation should be allowed to work out its own salvation without interference from another nation 12,000 miles away, ’that was not said in New Zealand, but Great Britain had shown wisdom in not interfering with young nations, and the real reason why the British Empire held together was because she gave her young nations selLmanagemcnt and self-government. ‘q believe that the people here ami in Australia are terribly apathetic on the subject of filling their countries with people," went on Dr Ingram, and, referring to the small population in Australia he said: “Before 100 years are gone*, unless it is filled with white people it will be tilled- with someone else. Ninetyfive per cent, of the people are on the edge of the saucer, and only a few in tho middle. You are keen on keeping Australia and New Zealand white, but how- are you going to keep that great continent empty ..nd white if they do not get it filled up with white people? I have always been known as the outspoken bishop. You are living in a fool’s paradise if you .think that with 1,250,000 persons you are going to pay all the expenditure of railways, transport, etc., and also the tremendous debt from the war. If you have 10,000,000 you will become a greater power as a nation. Where are you going to get the 10,000,000? Surely we can supply them.”

They must have, he said, a good organisation behind the nomination system, and Britain Mould send the best people—not rotters and wasters, but people who would work and improve the land and make New Zealand far better than it was. “Yes, you all clap these things. I found that in Australia.” said the bishop, as the applause died down. “Nothing, practical has been done about it. If I may say so, you have not enough vision. These men we will send you will not take-your jobs. They will take jobs that the New Zealander is not particularly keen to go to.” Urging the country to open up its lands, the bishop said: “The nation that despises the farmer is the nation that is doomed.” The Church of England Empire Settle- ; inent Committee was doing its utmost to bring up a type of boy whom it would fit up and provide his passage to New Zealand. if only the human touch were given at this end and the hand of welcome extended to make them feel at home, otherwise they were washed out and wrote Home saying: “For God’s sake do not come to New Zealand,” and became homesick and trailed back to the Old Country for the want of a welcome in the new land. -