The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1921. IMMIGRATION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14770, 8 October 1921, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1921. IMMIGRATION

It is reported that the New Zealand Government Agent stationed at San Francisco has lately received a number of enquiries respecting the possibility of settling in New Zealand, in view of Hie reports respecting the condition of trade and labour in the United States it is not wonderful that men who have some capital and a knowledge of farming should be willing to try their fortunes elsewhere. According to the statement of the Government AgSnt, the men who wish to come here are of good character. They have most of them some money, and some of them arc accustomed to farming, and they should therefore be just the settlers the country requires. It is not, however, an easy thing for any citizen of the United States to come to this country. He has to send first to ask whether he will he welcome. If the answer is to depend upon his character, which is of more importance than the money or even the knowledge of agriculture, the question arises how any decision can be made at this end. It is impossible for an officer in New Zealand to have personal knowledge of American citizens who may wish to settle here. In actual practice the permit will be granted on the recommendation of the Government Agent in San Francisco, who has the opportunity of seeing the man, of making enquiries about him if necessary, and of finding out the position of those who may certify to character. Although, however, it would seem the most sensible course to let the Agent deal with the matter, that is not the method adopted by the Government. The Agent, indeed, is not even kept supplied with the forms upon which the application for a permit is to be made, nor are these forms supplied to the Union Steamship Company. Presumably the intending settler must first write lo New Zealand to obtain the form, and then send it back again tc learn whether lie will be allowed to conic. The desire to settle in New Zealand must be very strong to survive this delay and discouragement, and it is safe to say that in most cases the idea will be abandoned. We shall lose the opportunity of acquiring settlers who would be of value, and shall perpetuate the isolation and exclusiveness to which our remote position makes us liable.

This unwise and regrettable law is one which was passed immediately after the Armistice, when-, the idea that every man was a potential enemy was strongly fixed in many minds. We are not peculiar in the legislation; it was in fact an epidemic very prevalent at that date. America herself has adopted similar legislation, with results sometimes ludicrous and sometimes cruel. There are, however, reasons in her case which do not apply to us, for the passage across the Atlantic is so short and so cheap that America has been flooded with immigrants in numbers beyond the capacity of the country to assimilate. Our distance from Europe gives us practical immunity from immigration of such a character. In erecting barriers which are practically impossible against settlers from the United States we are inflicting a grave injury' upon ourselves, and are contributing towards that attitude of suspicion and surliness from which the whole world is suffering. We are much in need of increased population, though our case is not quite so urgent as that of Australia. Both communities, however, are occupying large areas of desirable country with very inadequate populations. Both countries attach the utmost importance to the preservation of their racial characteristics, and place impediments in the way of Asiatic immigration. Nobody to-day questions the right of Australia or New Zealand to preserve face characteristics, but some people ask whether such large areas are necessary for the purpose. In debating the question the champions of these Dominions confine themselves to the question of race and ignore the question of area. They will not always, however, be able to take this line, and it is a matter of real urgency that we should take speedy steps to increase the population. Little reference has been made to the fact that the last census showed but a small percentage of increase, but it Is of greater importance than the temporary economic difficulties which engross our thoughts. Our legislation, howevei;, is entirely oblivious of the existing situation. It assumes that wo are entirely independent of immigration, and fully entitled to accept or refuse it as we may decide. Yet the Imperial Conference which has just ended heard Mr Hughes declare that defence was the primary necessity of Australia, but that she could not pay for it. Our position is the same, but we act as though we possessed an army and a navy and were willing to meet our enemies in the gate. It is fortunate for us that we have no immediate threats of any enemy, but the position is one that cannot last.

There is no occasion to say that any and everybody can come into flic country without lot or hindrance, though even that course would present much less danger than is commonly supposed. If, however, supervision is required, it should be provided at the port of departure, II is possible lo make enquiries there, and In decide without delay. The forwarding of an applica-

tlon to New Zealand in order to obtain a permit from a man who is not m a position to form an opinion is farcical, and can only result in choking of!' most would-be settlers. It would be interesting to know how this legislation took the particular-form. It has all the appearance of being an achievement of the bureaucracy intended to provide work, although at the time it is a matter of great difficulty to get permission to go to Australia. Probably it is equally difficult lo return. To get permission to go to England involves obtaining a passport and giving endless particulars of family history and personal appearance. Yet Australia and England are not afraid that racial purity will be contaminated by travellers from New Zealand, nor are we afraid of travellers from there, while no one is so simple as to suppose that criminals or international firebrands will enter their correct name and description on a passport- • The greater part of the regulations we should be better without; * what is necessary could be done in a more effective manner. The whole business is a specimen of the bureaucratic methods in which we are swathed.