IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25085, 17 January 1947, Page 6

IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND

GOVERNMENT POLICY r SHIPPING ACCOMMODATION FOR KEY MEN Although the allocation of berths on ships travelling from the United Kingdom to New Zealand is now in the hands of shipping companies again, the New Zealand Government has arranged for limited accommodation for specialised-key personnel urgently required for essential industries. This information has been received by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association from the Director of Employment (Mr H. L. Bockett). Mr Bockett’s letter was in reply to a remit passed at the annual New Zealand conference of garment manufacturers asking that his department facilitate the emigration to New Zealand of suitable labour from England and the Continent. The letter also covered more general aspects of immigration policy. Mr Bockett said there were no restrictions on persons who were wholly of British nationality and wholly of European race from/coming to New Zealand provided they were in good physical and mental health, of good character and reputation, in possession of valid passports, and made the usual declaration required of passengers arriving in New Zealand. All such persons were assured of a warm welcome. Lack of shipping accommodation was all that prevented many suitable immigrants from coming to New Zealand. The National Employment Service had been sponsoring priority passages for urgently needed workers and a proportion was for workers in the clothing trade. Now that the ships had been handed back to the shipping companies the allocation of berths would no longer be controlled by the Ministry of War Transport. A proportion of berths would be allocated to New Zealanders whose names were already recorded on the High Commissioner’s waiting list and no new names would be added, with the exception of those of businessmen on Gov-ernment-sponsored missions or of persons whose fares were actually paid by the New Zealand Government. Under the further arrangement made with the shipping companies for berths for key personnel, only a limited amount of accommodation was available for these men and their families until the backlog of demand for berths had been met and additional tonnage was available. Assisted Immigration “The whole question of assisted immigration is receiving the consideration of the Government and discussions have been held with the United Kingdom on the subject of an assisted scheme for residents of the United Kingdom,” Mr Bockett said. “Particular emphasis will be given to the immediate settlement of single persons, since the problem of their accommodation in New Zealand would not present the same difficulties as would the settlement of families in view of the accumulated demand for houses which has banked up during the war.” Mr Bockett said that in any such assisted scheme, clothing factory operatives would occupy a high place in the schedule of urgently required industrial workers. Representatives of the National Employment Service attached to the High Commissioner’s office were fully aware of the serious shortage of clothing operatives in New Zealand, and the employment figures were sent regularly to these representatives so that they could give up to date information on employment prospects. Mr Bockett said persons not of British nationality and European race required a permit from the Minister of Customs, and applications were considered on their merits. There had never been a scheme of assisted passages for other than* British people.