ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 3

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

» J DUTIES OF NOMINATOR. I rnn>iwG emplotme?:!. WORK SHOULD BE STATED. I "Where are the job? guaranteed to ■ j immigrants arri\;ng in the Dominion'."' ' This question has been asked so frequently that it is interesting to knowit is not necessary for an assisted immi- . g rant - lo have work to go to immediately on his arrival. Many people are still under the impression that in nominating a j»erson for an assisted passage from England the nominator must have employment for his nominee, but this is not so. the nomination form merely setting out that the nominator undertakes t<. find emplovment for the person nominated, and that maintenance will tie provided for his nominee after arrival in the Dominion. This was made clear by the local immigration authorities when a "Star" reporter made inquiries as to whether it was necessary for a nominator to state definitely where the employment was! for the j»erson nominated. "There is nothing which makes it : necessary for a nominated new arrival! to have work guaranteed for him," remarked Captain Davies of the Salvation Army, who is one of the immigration officers at Auckland. "All that L-' necessary at present is for the nominator' to sign the form by which he undertake:-,' to rind employment and provide maintenance for the person nominated after arrival."

Captain Davics said that tbc immigra-' tion officers did not know whether a I nominated |>erson had work to po to on' arrival, or not. If they had. then therl were very fortunate as there were more unemployed in Auckland just now than he could romeml»er in the summer of any previous year. The outlook for the winter months was not promising, and unless the Government did something h;g. and found employment, there was going to be considerable hard-hip experienced in many homes. Inquiries made at registry office* in the city supj>ort the statements made that unemployment is very acute, and one gentleman in close touch with the position expressed the opinion that in ! many cases the immigrant was deluded at Home into making the trip to the Dominion full of expectations which could not be realised. He quoted instances, one of a man whose calling was "inspector of weigh-bridges." and another of a young woman who said she was a '"governess."' Both had been given to understand from inquiries at the High Commissioner's office in London that they would have no difficulty in obtaining employment at their regular callings in the Dominion. On realising that there was no demand for inspectors of weighbridge*, or governnesses here, they were naturally disappointed, and for a long time were unable to get work of any kind. Another gentleman, while noting that the Prime Minister had stated a minimum would be imposed on the number of immigrants in future, thought in fairness to the workers of New Zealand and the immigrants, it should be necessary for all persons who nominated another, to state definitely just where tbe work was that the immigrant would! be provided with on arrival. If this! were done, a check could l»e kept, and if the job set out was not available. I then the nominator should be made to i pay the difference between the full fare' and the reduced rate, which the now' arrival is charged. This would make j people a little more careful about nomin- j atinj: others for assi-tM passages when! work was not assured. j