SPATE OF INQUIRIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 249, 2 August 1946, Page 3

SPATE OF INQUIRIES

LIKELY IMMIGRANTS NEW ZEALAND POPULAR (Special from E. G. Webber, Representative of N-Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.40 a.ni.) LONDON, Aug. 1 One of the most noticeable effects of the war upon the people of Britain has been the tremendous stimulation in the desire for emigration. This has been directed particularly to the Dominions and Colonies, ail of whose London offices are' being deluged with a spate of inquiries from would-be settlers.

New Zealand is receiving its full share of these in spite of the lack of encouragement which can be given them at present. Postal inquiries at New Zealand House averaged over 100 a day for the last 18 months and, in addition to these, there is a constant stream of personal calls. So great has been the volume of inquiries that it lias been found impossible to answer all of them individually/ and the most that can be done is to deal with selected cases and supply the remainder with official literature.

The National Service Department now has been made responsible for dealing with emigration inquiries, and two officers of that department are at present erf route to Britain. The inquiries represent a complete cross-section of the British population. Many of them come from ex-service people, but a remarkably,, large number are from middle-aged couples with families. They represent every class, profession and trade, and many come from people who have substantial sums to invest.

More than half are prepared to pay their own passages, and claim that they have friends or relations in New Zealand who will find them workTheir reasons for wanting to go to New Zealand vary considerably, but a great majority share these four—they want to live in a country with a better climate than Britain, they want better opportunities for themselves and their children than they consider can be obtained here; they like New Zealanders and they like the way they consider New Zealanders run their country. Fully 80 per cent, have no first-hand knowledge of New Zealand, and have formed opinions, either from what they have read or from what they have been told by New Zealanders they have met.

Unofficial Publicity Work

The important influence undoubtedly has been the unofficial publicity work done by New Zealanders on overseas service during the war. It is understandable if nostalgia has tended to gild the lily on some respects, but a number of impressions encountered do not take into account the effect of the war upon New Zealand conditions. It is not unusual to find would-be immigrants who consider that if they, can exchange Britain for New Zealand they will leave all war-time restrictions and difficulties behind. Ninety per cent, of inquiries are from British people, and the remainder are chiefly Continentals. The influence of New Zealand servicemen can be plainly discerned in the constant inquiries received from places such as Egypt, 'Greece and Italy. A survey taken during the average week at New Zealand House is interesting. In that period 611 inquiries were received from British nationals, and for 41 from aliens. Of this total 26 per cent, per cent had relatives or friends in New Zealand who were prepared to help them or find them work, and 61 per cent, wore ready to pay their own passages.

Analysis' of Inquiries

No fewer than 432 of the total comprised family groups, with children of varying ages, 138 single men, 58 single women, eight retired persons, and eight widows. An analysis of inquiries according to their trades and professions showed wide diversity of qualifications. Among the trades there are 10 agricultural workers, 22 carpenters and joiners. 10 fitters and turners, three garment makers, four mechanical engineers, five electrical engineers, three coalminers, five builders, five bricklayers, three instrument makers, three motor mechanics, seven painters and decorators, three plasterers, two plumbers, eight printers, six sheetmetal workers, five tailors and three welders. There is only one domestic worker.

Among the professions there are six accountants, 15 clerks, three dentists, 29 engineers of various descriptions, 18 farmers, three journalists, seven doctors, seven nurses and 10 teachers. Aliens are made up as follows: Six Norwegians, four Poles, three Greeks, one Hungarian, six Dutch, three French, 1 wo Germans, one Chinese, three Czechs, two Danes, two Americans, two Austrians and six Belgians. Russia so far is practically the only country from which no inquiries have been received. This lias been an average week, and the percentages revealed what may be regarded as typical of all inquiries received in liie last eight, months. A considerable number of inquiries expressed willingness to invest sums of £IO,OOO and upwards in establishing themselves in the Dominion. One man wanted to sell a large textile factory in the Midlands and buy a sheep farm. A large percentage of inquiries want information about educational facilities in the Dominion, and indicate "that they consider their children have better opportunities, there than they are likely to obtain in Britain. No one so far has mentioned fear of another war as a reason for wanting to get out of Britain, and very few mention the prospect of getting better food. Pooling of Applications Except in special cases no priority can be given any of these inquirers, and all New Zealand House can do is to give them what information is available and refer them to the shipping companies. For some time past British companies trading to New Zealand have been pooling their non-priority passage applications, and this week the total on the waiting list was approximately 4000. There is no doubt that if any encouragement could be given would-be emigrants, this number would immediately increase, but there appears little prospect of this encouragement'" until New Zealand’s immigration policy is decided, and 3000 to 4000 New Zealanders with priority passages who are still waiting for ships to New Zealand can be got away.

The disappointing aspect of the inquiries is that very few women appear willing to do domestic work. On the oilier hand. New Zealand appears likely to he able to remedy its shortage of mental hospital nurses without any trouble. A recent advertisement in six British papers brought 200 replies'. Further advertisements will he inserted shortly, and from the total applications 200 will he selected and given priority passages.