DOMINION’S FUTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1924, Page 7

DOMINION’S FUTURE.

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME. SETTLING THE COUNTRY. FINDING NEW MARKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Publicity and commercial development formed the subject of resolutions passed by the Dominion conference of- Chambers of Commerce to-: day. Th© following resolutions were passed:— That the conference affirms the desire of chambers of commerce to co-operate with the Governmiyit in advancing the interests of the Dominion by securing further publicity abroad, and is of opinion that the subject is of such importance that, in the interests of the future welfare of this country, the expenditure in this direction should be reI viewed to meet the ever-growing publie demand for greater publicity overseas for New Zealand. | With a view to the development of further markets for our primary products and of establishing exchange of /trade on sound reciprocal lines, this conference is of opinion that it is advisable to have a resident agent in Canada and the United States of America —practical trade commissioners who could act also as tourist and publicity officers.. That following the close of thte British Empire Exhibition, concerted special measures be taken to impress •on British capitalists the Dominion’s potentialities for the investment of capital with a view to inducing their active participation in the institution and expansion of secondary industries and the working of undeveloped resources within the Dominion; and that His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in New Zealand .be requested to co-operate in putting forward this suggestion! FOSTERING IMMIGRATION. That tourist traffic be energetically developed by improving the tourist resort accommodation, highways and railways. That the Dominion should adopt a \vell considered and progressive policy to secure a largely increased number Of suitable migrants annually from the United Kingdom, and in order that this matter may be dealt with in a co-ordin-nted and energetic manner, the Government be urged to set up a permanent immigration commission to work in conjunction with the Immigration Department, and, if necessary, to reorganise the New Zealand Immigration Department in England. The commission would:

(a)'- Arrange for regularly obtaining and disseminating information of the labour requirements of the primary and secondary industries of the Dominion.

(b) Report on the unoccupied lands in New Zealand available for settlement and the amount of land held in large blocks but suitable for sub-division and intensive cultivation.

(c) Be enabled to take advantage of the offer of assistance by the Imperial Government under the Overseas SettleI ment Act, I (d) Organise a system which will I effectively stand behind emigrants aftei . fcficix- arrival during the first difficult period. That the Government -be asked to bring in a scheme for the more equitable .distribution of assisted* immigrants, and that they be given the option, before leaving the United Kingdom. of choosing any of the twelve prin<?ipal boroughs of New Zealand of country contiguous thereto as their destination, and that there shall be no differentiation in cost to immigration.