ASSISTED IMMIGRATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2423, 11 February 1909, Page 6

ASSISTED IMMIGRATION

A I.ABOIf PROTEST. (Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. The Tracies and Labor Council last night waited on the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Immigration, to protest against the continuance of the present system of assisted immigration. It was pointed out that unemployment was general throughout the Dominion, and the prospects for the coming winter were bad. Hence tlio arrival of people from abroad was an embarrassment to the workers and the country generally. Mr. Fowlds, in reply, said a country with New Zealand’s possibilities should be able, to absorb a fair number of people under normal conditions. It was wrong foi tho Government to add to an overstocked labor market, however, by paying for assisted immigration,, and where it was evident that this was the result it would /be. ended. Tlio demand for domestic servants was great and unsatisfied, and somo time ago lire High Commissioner was instructed that only domestic servants and agricultural' laborers should he assisted. Of .tiie immigrants arriving only about one-third were assisted last year. Out of 6589 arrivals only 1997 were approved by the High Commission'er, and 1103 obtained assisted passages ou the nomination, of friends in the Dominion. Certain shipping agents had been making statements which wero unwarranted, ancl it was difficult to know how this was to ho dealt with. It might, however, he possible for the Government to minimise the misrepresentations of some shipping agents. Anything that could be done to stop adding to an over-stocked labor market would be clone. The Government, however, could not advertise all over the United Kingdom that there was no room in New Zealand, and it was not wise, for an mdmdital or a nation to cry stinking, fish in that way. Tlio High Commissioner would give a ciear statement of the different industries as revealed by the figures of the Labor Department.. Regarding the cutting up of land For settlers, tfee Minister said the Government was doing as much as possible, and he. pointed out that there was plenty of good land in Auckland to be had for the. asking.