FEWER IMMIGRANTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19769, 17 February 1927, Page 6

FEWER IMMIGRANTS

“MINIMUM FOR WINTER” PRIME MENISTER’S STATEMENT OVERSEAS SETTLEMENT “It has been decided that during the ’winter months the number of assisted immigrants -will be reduced to a minimum,” said the Primje Minister, Mr Coates, in a statement made m Wellington concerning the immigration policy of the Government. “The subject of overseas uetttement is one,” he said, “that has a distinct bearing on the economic life of the Empire. It is a fact that at the sent time, at any rate, th© white population of the Empire Is not dlatrybuted to the best advantage, and theie can be no doubt that the transfer of

the surplus population of the United Kingdom to the Dominions would be beneficial. “Great progress has been made in this direction, but in tho case of New Zealand it is, of course, necessary to see that immigration is not allowed, to become greater than the country can satisfactorily absorb. We are anxious to proceed as far as possible, but economic conditions in New Zealand at the present time have rendered necessary a reconsideration of the volume of immigration, and it has been decided that during the winter months the number of assisted immigrants will be reduced te a minimum. “The greatest care js already taken in the selection of migrants, and it is not proposed te relax in any way the standards that are eonaidered mjees-, m the tetergsto not only of thru country, but of tiie immigrants themgeiyes/'