MIGRANTS FOR NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26205, 31 August 1950, Page 3

MIGRANTS FOR NEW ZEALAND

|5OO EXPECTED NEXT YEAR , 4000 TO COME THIS YEAR (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. August 30 B? ear^,.iH eyear assisted immigrants snoula be arming in New Zealand at the rate ot 7500 a year, said the Secretary of Labour and Emnlov meat (Mr H. L. Beckett) to-day discussing his recent trio overseas He said that about 3090 assisted immigrants were expected during 1950, and 1000 cisplaced persons were due next m nth. He difficulty was expected in obtaining 1000 married artisans a year from Lritain for budding and other essential trades, but the outlook for single men for the building trades from Britain was less promising. Mr Bockett said that another shin in addition to the Atlantis, should be available early next year to bring British immigrants to the Dominion. He also said that nominations by New Zealanders of British tradesmen and their fami’ies to be brought to New Zealand already totalled 253, representing a total of 833 persons Mr Bockett added that Holland was eager to conclude a migration agreement with New Zealand. Thousands of vo-Jhg Netherlanders were keen to tome to New Zealand. The Danish Government was non-committal but the Italian and West German Governments were looking for new lands to provide work and. homes for their surplus population. ■ Mr Bockett said that the annual immigration target for the next two years of 7500 a year comprised 2000 single persons from Britain 1000 families, or 3500 persons, from Britain, and 2000 single immigrants, mostly Netherlanders, from Europe. The Netherlands Government was willing to contribute substantially to the cost of transport and it should not be difficult to- recruit 2000 single Dutch men and women a year. Mr Beckett said that many New Zealand employers still did not realise that they could take advantage of the nomination scheme to obtain tradesmen from Britain, but it was essential that the employer be able and willing to provide accommodation for the artisan and his family. Employers not knowing of tradesmen wishing to come to New Zealand could make a selection from lists which the department would supplv of those who had applied in Britain. 4 Until the housing shortage eased, married tradesmen brought out by the department itself would be practically all building artisans, but under the nomination scheme workers for all types of essential employment would be accepted. The married tradesmen seeking to come to New Zealand were of a good type. Mr Bockett also said that a limited number of women for domestic and factorv work could be readily obtained from Western Germany or Italy.