MIGRATION URGED.

Wairarapa Age, 7 October 1936, Page 5

MIGRATION URGED.

DISCUSSION BY EMPIRE \ DELEGATES. f DOMINION AND OVERSEA VIEWS. f COMPROMISE RESOLUTION CARRIED. WELLINGTON, October 6. When the subject of migration came up at the congress of the Empire Chambers of Commerce to-day, Lord Elibank vacated the chair in favour of Sir Thomas Wilford, who called on Mr. J. E. Emlyn-Jones (Cardiff) to move a resolution which was a compromise between a number originally submitted as remits by Britain, Australia and New Zealand. It affirmed the vital importance of an early reinforcement of the populations of the oversea Dominions by organised and substantial migration from Great Britain. Mr. J. T. Martin (Wellington) admitted that the population of New Zealand was practically at a standstill, but pointed out that New Zealand was coming out of a depression which had: hit her severely and that the migration question was becoming a live subject again. The matter was largely one of publicity and three books had already appeared on the subject this year. He declared that there was a shortage of labour in New Zealand, particularly for farms and domestic service. If they were given time to formulate a comprehensive scheme he thought something could be done. Lord Elibank, speaking as a delegate, •trongly supported the views of Mr. Emlyn-Jones. He said the matter had to be looked at from the point of view of building up the Empire Commonwealth, but also from the world point of view. He pointed out that there gras land-hunger among the nations and specifically referred to the trend of events in Italy and Germany. It was no wonder they were looking at the open spaces in the British Dominions, be said. He thought British capital should be sent to the Dominions as well as migrants, but it must receive proper consideration. If it were taxed out of existence or anything done to make trade impossible, very little capital would come out. Lord Elibank also suggested that there was need to ©pen the way for a proportion of European migration, as America had done. He pointed out that Britain ’s own blood was by no means unmixed. The motion was carried unanimously and by acclamation. The conference opened a debate on a resolution aiming at the imposition of restrictions of cheap-labour manufartaring countries, particularly Japan and adjourned until to-morrow morning.—(P.A.)

EMPIRE EXHIBITION. TO BE HELD IN GLASGOW. (Received Tuesday, 11.15 p.m.) RUGBY, October 5. At a largely attended meeting in •Glasgow it was decided to hold an Empire exhibition at Bellahouston Park, ■Glaytw, in 1938.—(British Official