SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1915, Page 4

SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.

SOLDIERS , WIDOWS ASTJJ OKPITAHe. -ißy Telegraph.—Special to •*«»*.•} „ " WELLiyrGTOS, this cfcjv The question of Belgians' New"? Zealand assisted immigration polity Tm been .partially suspended a* « ceuequence of the war, btit there H»y »» other developments of ihterait jnjWfism nection -with.this subject Tte Hon. S.: : w D. Bell (Minister in Charge «f tion) informed your correspondent "ib> f day that the Government stopped i& assistance to agricultural labourers the -war commenced, as these are g&£_ ;-?S ally of the ages suitable Hoi tenip v the ranks: ' '-'With JuniiMnC* continued the Minister, "we »re Wβ taking as many as -we can get, but li numbers have dropped migrants nominated "by Tetaltms ii Zealand we still iueo.pt, so long as t&ey are not within the limits previoaej , mentioned." . ■ "You ask mc if we intend taking'step* to encourage Belgian immigrants, .p*i>- : ;• ticnlarly widows and orphans. TW» I question has been considered tafth bwi' _ and in England, not only that, but tie V advisability of taking -widows Uβ orphans .of British -soldiers. In regati- ; to the latter, we are taking steps to .-■*, '.-' whether we can make some offer wMeV: they can accept, and to see whether ii* '. can make provisions by way of dbmestie' service or otherwise. Aβ to the B* .;■*>■■:■ gians, there is the obvious difficulty tbjMs after the -war is over their language and their different mode of life cay cMjili.Y those who are at present anxioos to t«i» ■ i them to feel the burden; thai the po**" , ■'•■ tion of the Belgians themselfe may become uncomfortable in New Zealand. A. number of ladies in this country, wbe are anxious to take Belgian chfldwiii ?;> have written to mc, and the matter ka».:;_ been referred to the High. Commissibner.;:, Nothing has been arranged about any in- . dividual application, but I the generous impulse which •!*• - prompted many offers of eeeiataal*. ; ;- Our desire at present is to concentrate:; New Zealand efforts upon the reg«4»r\ contributions •Wβ have undertaken, ai>4 ■which are needed so •urgently.*' •*".