EX-IMPERIAL SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16732, 13 May 1922, Page 17

EX-IMPERIAL SOLDIERS.

IMMIGRATION APPROVED BY R.S.A,

The present policy of bringing exImperial soldier immigrants out to the Dominion was approved at the annual ccnference of the Canterbury District Returned Soldiers’ Association yesterday afternoon. Air W. IS. Leadley, on behalf of the Christchurch Association, moved the following remit: —“That this conference is of the opinion that the immigration of Imperial ex-service men and the it* families is far too important to this Dominion to allow of its stoppage even temporarily. It therefore urges the Government to make ample pro vision for absorbing Imperial immigrants by providing a progressive scheme of agricultural training and land settlement, and also by giving encouragement to new industries which will he the means of absorbing industrial workers.” Mr Leadley said he wished to move tho remit because he had noticed that, associations throughout the Dominion had been passing resolutions urging the cessation of immigration. He believed that people who were urging the stoppage of immigration were not looking far enough ahead. Unemployment would not. always he with them. The time would come when there would ha no unemployment, and people would he looking round for workers. He asked them to look at the question from both sides. Immigration was going to ensure the safety of tho Dominion. Mr R. R. Bell : And of the Empire. Continuing, Mr Leadlev said that im. migration w<ould help to bring about a white New Zealand. That might not, concern them very much in the South Island, but in the North Island the Chinese and the Indian menace were becoming very apparent. At the present time there were thousands of acres which were not being put to their full productive capacity, and continued immigration would enable those spaces to he peopled. Then, again, the secondary industries would be benefited. Another point was that continued immigration would reduce the per capita burden of the national debt. Mr Leadley drew attention to the fact that the great majority of the immigrants during the past few rears had been Imperial soldiers, .their wives and their families. Tie contended that it would he ungracious to say that those, men who fought alongside the New Zealand soldiers should not he alloVed to come out to tho Dominion. He hoped that thev would not allow a temporary difficulty to obscure their vision of the future. Mr R. B. Bell (South Canterbury) seconded the motion. He pointed out that at the present time there were one and a half million unemployed in England, and it was surely the duty ot New Zealand to help the Old Country in its present difficulties. Sometimes when they saw men out of work and right up against things they were inclined to think that immigration should he stopped, but they should look ahead and recognise, that their present difficulties would soon be overcome. He asked that the question should be regarded from a national standpoint..

Mr E. Orchard (Christchurch) also supported the remit. Mr A. H. M'Kane (Greymouth) opposed tbs motion H* said that the men were brought out under a guaran-* ! tee of employment, and in many cases I when the guarantee ran out the men ! w put out of work. He had seen | numerous cases of immigrants in great j distress. He was a member of the ) Greymouth Patriotic Committee, and at practically every meeting they were called upon to render assistance to immigrants who were stranded and who ! were not suitable for New Zealand j conditions. The speaker contended ■ that the land policy of the Dominion | was not at all suitable for immigrants. J By bringing the men out they were i forcing hardship upon them. That afternoon they had passed a remit drawing attention to the need of houses, j and, in his opinion, if they could not ! find houses for their own people it was ’ unfair to bring other families out to J the Dominion. Ho moved as an amendment:—“That this conference urges the Government to make .ample provision for absorbing Imperial immigrants by providing a progressive scheme of agricultural training and land settlement, and also by giving en I couragement to new industries which j will be the means of absorbing indus- i trial workers, before continuing the pre- j sent immigration policy.” The amendment was seconded by Mr ; F. L. Lynch (Westport), who said that j large numbers of immigrants were being ! sent to the West Coast. A great deal 1 of distress was caused through immi- | grants being sent to Westport to work in the mines and being unable to ob- j tain employment. He had met quite a j number of Imperial soldiers w r ho said they were verv sorry they ever came j out.

Dr L. B. Burnett (Rangiora) said he was an Englishman and had seen Eng glish conditions at their best, hut it was impossible to compare those con ditions with conditions in New Zealand. He hoped they would think very seriously before they stopped immigrants coming out. He could assure the delegates that the immigrants who were unemployed were infinitely better off m New Zealand than they would be in the Old Country. Mr G. W. Lloyd (Hokitika) contended that the men were being brought out under false pretences. They were induced to sell up their homes and come out to jobs, but when they arrived they found there were no jobs for them. Mr Leadley said there were thousands of acres in New Zealand that should be opened up, but he wished to point out that the same applied tp England. There were thousands of acres in England that could be opened up, and it was time England got busy. Mr Leadley : Thev have been opened up now. Mr Lloyd : “Well, I’m glad to hear it ” The speaker said he had met numbers of immigrants with curses on their lips, and ftiany would he only too glad to go hack if they could. He hoped that immigration would be immediately shopped until conditions got butter.

Mr Leadley, replying, expressed the opinion that the present condition of I affairs was purely temporary and that this winter would see the worst over. The amendment was defeated by eight votes to three The motion was carried. __________-