IMMIGRATION PERMITS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 2

IMMIGRATION PERMITS

DOMINIONS POLICY OUTLINED EVIDENCE BY STATE OFFICIALS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 3. “Evgr sine? the war many appiications have been coming from' nationals in Europe,” said Mr E, D, Good, Comptroller of Customs, before' the Parliamentary Committee on Population. They included persons with relatives in New Zealand, and many inquiries had been made by persons who had come to New Zealand as refugees ©bout obtaining permits for relatives and friends in Europe.* It had been the general policy in toe meantime to decline such applications unless the circumstances were most exceptional. Alien applications for entry to New Zealand were largely from business and professional persons.

Mr Good said that at the beginning Of each year it bed been toe ’practice to prepare a statement showing the poligy followed in previous years to help the Minister in determining the policy for toe following 12 months. Over a fairly long perioif before the war and before tpe Nazi berseeution of Jews began It was toe policy favourably to consider applications from suitable northern Europeans. Southern Europeans were not regarded as so suitable for assimilation into toe community, and except for wives and minor children of southern Europeans already in New Zealand, the applications generally had been declined. "‘Flood of Applications” "The persecution of Jews in Europe resulted in a flood of applications from Jews, said Mr Good, A Jn view of the humanitarian issues involved, many more permits were granted than previously.”

So that too many refugees should not enter one particular occupation, the Departments of Labour and Industries and Commerce ware consulted in each case before a recommendation was made to the Minister. After the outbreak of war it was decided that permits could not be issued except in very exceptional cases. No assistance was granted for alien migrants, and no official machinery was established tor their reception, placing, and aiferpie. Minister was the final authority m the issue of permits for aliens. Mr Good said experience had shown that aliens such as Jugoslavs, although good citizens, were apt to live in groups. His feeling wa? that Immigrants should be easily apd quickly assimilated, and from that viewpoint southern Europeans were not so desirable as northern Europeans. Accommodation Problem In submissions on behalf 9 f the Department of Labour, M.r G. M. F. Jackson said that from 40 to 50 in. quiries from prospective migrants were being received weekly by the Idea Qf assist passages, but a geod proportion wap ready to provide finance. Many had been in the services. Mr. G. W. Director of Housing Construction, in an analysis of the accommodation problem and the shortage of materials, said; *’lt will be seen that any large-scale immigration policy, if implemented during the next two or three yegrp. is lively further to embarrass toe housing situation m tois country. We must expect to provide, say, one house for each. 3.7 immigrants, unless they are children, who might be housed otherwise.” Mr Albertson said that while the housing shortage might be a contributing factor in the population decline, there were also economic, biological, and psychological considerations. It cpuld be stated that’ where f ° r houses weyp the greatest, the number of children a family was generally the smallest.