IMMIGRATION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 8

IMMIGRATION.

THE YEAR'S STATISTICS. (SPECIAL TO "TEH PB3SS.") WELLINGTON", August. 13. All immigrants arriving in New Zealand last year, with a few exceptions, were satisfactorily absorbed into the population according to the annual report of the Department of Immigration. It was anticipated a year ago that the passing of the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, by the Imperial Parliament, would have the effect of stimulating the flow of British immigrants to New Zealand, and greatly decreasing the cost of passage money per capita.. Owing chiefly to the fact that the new agreement between the Home ; and Dominion Governments did not come into force until July, 1923, it was impossible to place, before the people of .New Zealand the greatly reduced fares ! from the United Kingdom until the i latter end of last year. The agreement, | which expires next year, provides for '■ passage money as low as £ll for farm labourers and married adults, while domestics got free passages. "Encouragement is given," says the report, "to that most important phase of ail immigration policies, juvenile and child migration. At the present time the percentage of this class to the total number arriving stands at 32 per cent., but it is hoped that tho result would be 4CO per cent, next year. In five years after arrival the Dominion would have a most valuable asset for money expended in augmenting the population." The report also reviews the scheme recently instituted of the migration of public and secondary school boys from Britain as farm cadets. The total number of nominations for assisted passages during tho year was 3542, an average of 68 per week, compared with the previous year's total of 2582 or 60 per week. The year's weekly average represented 7100 souls per annum. This should increase to between 10,000 and 12,000 under the present agr«ment. The total number of arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year ended March 31st last was 11,483, excluding returning New Zealanders. Of the total number arriving 6752 were assisted by the Government. Of those assisted 5994 were nominated, while 758 were applicants. The chief occupations were:— Wives 1125 Domestics ... ... 951 Farmers ... ... 566 Mechanics. ... ... 277 Labourers ... ... 132 Engineers ... ... 110 Clerks 87 Carpenters ... ... 81 Shop assistants ... 77 Joiners ..., ... 56 The distribution of nominated immigrants was;— Auckland ... ... 2157 Wellington ... ... 3389 Canterbury ... ... 713 Otago ' ... ... 579 Hawke's Bay ... 318 Nelson ... ... 289 Taranaki ... ... 1.56 Southland ... ... 144 Weetland ... ... 132 Marlborough ... 39 DISCUSSION IN THE. HOUSE. LABOUR MEMBERS' CRITICISM. (PRIS3 ASSOCIATION TZLEORAM.) WELLINGTON", August 13. lii the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Hon. W. Nosworthy tabled the report of the Immigration Department. Mr P. Fraser asked the Minister to state to the House whether there was any plan or system under which immigrants arriving in New Zealand were to be settled. Mr T. K. Sidey urged the Minister not to bring immigrants to New Zealand at a rate faster than they could be readily absorbed. Mr W. Parry said that until the Government was able to provide our own people with land and homes they should not emlark en an immigration policy which could only have tho effect of swelling the unemployed.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan urged a stricter medical examination of immigrants coming to New Zealand. Mr F. N. Bartram said the Government should launch a land development policy if they intended to pursue an immigration policy. Mr H. T. Armstrong contended that New Zealand was not getting the best of British workmen as immigrants. They were mostly men who were left behind in the ra;e in Britain, and would be left behind in tho race here.

Mr O. J. Hawken deprecated the idea that people who came from Home should be put on New Zealand land. They wore not fitted for that life. What we wanted were tradesmen, who got far better wages than men on the land got

Mr_ H. E. Holland protested against certain statements made by Sir James Allen, which ho described as both inaccurate and discourteous towards Labour members. Some of the immigrants he had seen on the West Coast"were most desirable people. They were as good as Britain could possibly send. The Labour Party would welcome such immigrants so long as they did not displace people already here. Mr It. McKeen wanted to know what provisions were being made for the future of public school boys who were being brought out in the interest of agriculture.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy said tho Overseas Delegation bad reported that the New Zealand system of immigration was the best in tho Empire. The year's expenditure had been about £9o*ooo— the same as last year. The medical examination of immigrants was carefully dene, and was quite satisfactory.