MORE VIGOROUS IMMIGRATION POLICY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3681, 16 November 1912, Page 11

MORE VIGOROUS IMMIGRATION POLICY.

A PROMISE BY THE PREMIER

RESULT OF AN AUCKLAND DEPUTATION.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] AUCKLAND, Nov. lb. A large deputation of representatives. of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association, Employers’ Association, Farmers’ Union and' Overseas' Club waited upon the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) this morning to urge that the Government should adopt an active immigration policy. Mr T. Hodgson, representing tho Employers’ Association, said.he could speak from personal experience. Many industries were keenly hampered hoonuso of tho shortage of labor. Throe was a remedy and that was to be fount! I in the pursuance of a progressive immigration policy. The scarcity of 'female lalior was particularly acute, lie urged that tho best immigration scheme was that which would tend to bring whole families to New Zealand. The need for immigration was never greater than now. The Unions might raise a protest, but tho employers only asked that labor should he introduced at Union award rates. Captain Oalbook, of the Farmers’ Union, put the ease from tho agriculturalist point of view and said that the Sedgwick scheme under which boys could he introduced and trained was certainly the best for the farmer. A scheme for the employment of intermittent labor would shortly he put before the Prime Minister by the Farmers’ Union. - The Prime Minister, in reply, said the importance of the subject was thoroughly appreciated by the Government. He realised that the population of this country could' be doubled without interfering with the standard of wages prevailing. The new High Commissioner (Hon. Thos. Mackenzie) was a man • particularly suited to carry out such work as this in the Old Country. Hon. Mr Bell (Minister for Immigration) had made a special study of the subject of immigration and a new officer to occupy the position of a /manager in the Immigration Department would he very shortly appointed. The present Government had alreadv made up its mind to pursue an active policy on this question. Communications received from the High Commissioner indicate that he was lecturing in a number of the big centres on the advantages of life in New Zealand and was endeavoring particularly to prevail on farmers in the Old Country to emigrate to New Zealand—men who would he in a position to take up land when they got here. In conclusion the Prime Minister stated that the deputation could look forward l with confidence to a very great- improvement in our immigration policy. He was not reflecting on previous administrations. It "was just that the time was opportune for adopting a more vigorous policy than had been pursued for many years and the present Government was going to do it's utmost to attract the right kind j of immigrant to this country. /