A POWERFUL ARGUMENT.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16626, 23 October 1925, Page 5

A POWERFUL ARGUMENT.

KEEP THE CRADLES FULL. TWO LITTLE BOYS IN BLUE. MR. LEADLEY ON IMMIGRATION. Proudly holding a twin in each arm, Mi-. W. E. Leadley, Reform candidate for Avon, declared at a meeting at Christchurch that the slogan for New Zealand should he: “Keep New Zealand cradles full.” Mr. Leadley was dealing with the immigration question, in his speech at New Brighton, when he showed his twins in illustration of his slogan. The best kind of population New Zealand could have as imigrants, he said, were the immigrants of British stock, hut lie believed that before the Dominion could absorb successfully a larger number of immigrants than it was absorbing to-day, It was absolutely necessary that increased and better facilities should be provided for absorption." He believed that a better selection of immigrants .should be made. The Government should- send Home, every two or three years, men with a knowledge of the economic conditions of the country, who were able to give sound, up-to-date advice to intending immigrants. A very strict medical examination should be made of all intending immigrants. The examination made at present was much more strict than that that had been made three or four years ago, and it would be a wonderful system which would pi'ovide that not even one or two undesirable immigrants could get into the country. There should he established in New Zealand district immigration committees working in close co-operation wfth the Immigration Department, and investigating the resources of the provinces. The committees should be established on the same lines the repatriation committees, and should consist of representatives of the Trades and Labour Council, the Employers’ Association, tlie Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Farmers’ Union, and similar bodies, and its work would he to ascertain what land was available for closer settlement, what industries could be established, and what industries could ho further developed. It should keep in touch with id I the new arrivals in New Zealand until they were placed in proper employment. Then there would not be the complaints regarding new arrivals that were seen in the papers nowadays, and there would not be the cases of new arrivals having to apply to the Hospital Beards for relief.

But the best population this country could have was New Zealand-horn hc-vs and girls. During the war, .17.000 of our best young men lost tl eir lives, and so they could see the necessity of that slogan, “Keep New Zealand cradles full.” “Undoubtedly the best population for New Zealand is New Zealand hoys and girls,” said Mr. Leadley. “I would like to show you a sample. May The candidate ducked off the stage for a moment, and then ducked on again, carrying a twin boy in pach arm. Each was dressed in blue. “New Zealand-horn boys!” announced the candidate, proudly. “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you my mascots in the coming election. Thp little fellow on your right is Bill, and the little fellow on your left is Jock. My wife tells me that Jock' takes after his father. He lias the gift of the gab. He is a hit shy to-night, but he has just whispered in my ear that if they have both pleased you, the best way you can show it is to return their daddy to Parliament.” The twins, who were brought on amid giggles from the audience, were taken off amid applause.