The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1926. IMMIGRATION POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1926, Page 12

The Daily News SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1926. IMMIGRATION POLICY.

In his address to the members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Mr. H, D. Thompson (Under-Secretary for Immigration) did good service by presenting a lucid and straightforward epitome of the Government’s policy, as well as giving the main features of the steps in aid which may be regarded as the policy of the Imperial Government. It was almost out of reason to expect that any new developments on the part of either flie Home or Dominion authorities would be brought’ to light, but Mr. Thompson clearly demonstrated the main reasons whereon the co-operative policies of the two Governments are based, and he cleared up several points upon which certain misconceptions had arisen, and gave a complete denial of some baseless rumours which vitally affected the good work of his department and the success of the present system. In dealing with this subject, Mr. Thompson was able to bring to bear upon it first-hand information, not only as to the people who have in recent years come to this country to settle, but also as to those yvlio, not finding conditions to their liking, have returned to the Old Country. He emphatically stated, from the evidence of official files, that not five per cent, of the immigrants had returned, and that not one of them could get the necessary passport to return without being registered by the department. It will probably be thought that the most convincing testimony as to the success of the scheme at the present time is the fact that last month there had been a record number of arrivals, yet all the immigrants had been absorbed within forty-eight hours. On the subject of the set-

tlement on the land of new comers to the Dominion, Mr. Thompson had almost a bare prospect to disclose, his statement practically amounting to "Nothing doing,” and, no doubt, that fact is as greatly regretted by himself as by immigrants desirous of starting on farming operations. It is quite right, however, that the position should be plainly stated. Apparently there is little, if any, land available for settlement, except of a kind that will need an outlay of twenty pounds an acre to bring it into production—in the course of time—and even then its future will be none too certain. No one, except those with money to burn, would be so foolish as to faee sueh a proposition, or to take on the rehabitation of deteriorated country. On the subject of sub-dividing the large holdings suitable for that process, Mr. Thompson could say little beyond the stereotyped remark that sueh a project must necessarily be slow. It is satisfactory to learn that the Dominion Government is not encouraging the emigration from the Old Country of single men, especially as the problem of dealing with that class of the present population of the Dominion is. causing some concern; hence the wisdom of receiving married people and their families, who are likely to settle down and help towards the progress of the country of their adoption. Without being, pessimistic, it is only prudent to proceed with caution in the infitter of immigration. The outlook at present calls for a careful, policy, and it is reassuring to feel that, in the present Under-Secretary for Immigration the Dominion has an official who takes quite the right view as to the policy best calculated to benefit the country, and that he recognises the advantages attaching to the influx of carefully selected boys and girls likely to make good and prove a welcome acquisition to the Dominion.