IMMIGRATION POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 6

IMMIGRATION POLICY

TO SUPPLEMENT LABOUR POSITION ON PARMS. 1 IVAVEBLEV REMIT DEFEATED. j PALMERSTON N., May 28. ( Expressing favour of an immigration policy uy the Government to supplement the labour available lur 1 lanns, a remit was put forward by J the Waverley branch when the interprovincial conference of the Farmers’ * Union was resumed at Feilding this morning under the chairmanship of Mr. * N. Campbell (Awahuri). ’ Air. Livingstone (Hawke’s Bay) sup- ‘ ported the remit, which was moved ! by Air. AJLcGregor (Waverlcy). ft was stated that during the last six months the shortage of larm labour had be- . come acute, probably due to men holding themselves in readiness for public ' works jobs. Mr. Howie (Fordell) commented that ‘ the conference would be on dangerous ground in advocating the importation of labour from the Old Country. ' Air. C. I’. Jensen (Levin) said De recognised the position, but immigration was not going to rectify it. Farm- ' ers must receive sufficient for their produce to pay for labour on the same scale as in other industries. Air. Bremner supported the remit, stating that the conference should endorse the principle. Youth immigration had had beneficial results in practice. Opposition to Remit. Opposition to the remit was voiced by Air. Franklin (AVanganui), who said immigration would only accentuate the unemployment problem. He considered that, under the circumstances, they would be foolish to pass the remit. Air. C. C. Jackson (AVairarapa) urg ed the acceptance of the remit. Alost of the young men in his district had gone to public works jobs, he said, and the area had been denuded ot farm labour. There was the same acute position ruling regarding domestic help. Air. Smith (Brunswick) favoured the remit, stating that once of the Dominion ’s greatest needs was increased population. No Government Sympathy. While thousands were receiving sustenance and leaning up against lampposts, said Mr. Bennett (Tinui) further immigration was unwise. The proposal would receive no sympathy from the present Government, he predicted. Strong opposition to the remit was voiced by Air. Lynch (Paraparumu). Immigrants should not be encouraged to come unless they possessed capital of their own, he contended. Mr. Livingstone moved an amendment that, should there be a continued shortage of farm labour, the Govcrnmment be requested to consider the advisability of obtaining from Britain a supply of suitable young men at a reasonable wage, who would be prepared to enter into a bond to give service for, say, five years, on farms. The amendment was defeated by 3-> votes to 17. and the original remit was also lost by 34 votes l4.