N.Z. Target Of 15,000 Immigrants Each Year

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27569, 28 January 1955, Page 12

N.Z. Target Of 15,000 Immigrants Each Year

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 27.

The Government will encourage 15,000 immigrants a year to settle in New Zealand in the future. There will be virtually no limitation in the occupational categories for British migrants, and special encouragement will be given to selected persons from Scandinavia arid Western Europe, particularly tradesmen and single women.

Recommendations on these lines by the Immigration Advisory Council had been adopted by the Government, said the Minister of Immigration (Mr J. R. Hanan) today. They would be vigorously pursued by the Immigration Department. It was not expected that the approved recommendations would themselves result in any great increase in immigration, said the Minister. “It is thought likely that it may prove necessary to offer some financial assistance to migrants from Scandinavia and Western Europe, particularly to secure building tradesmen and other desirable types,’’ he said. This would, however, have to be discussed with the Governments concerned, said the Minister. The average number of immigrants coming into New' Zealand during the four years ended March, 1950, had been 5000 a year, said Mr Hanan. The average for the four years ended March, 1954, was 17,000 a year. Fewer Migrants in 1954-55

The total number of immigrants for the year ending March 31, 1955, would be only 10,000, he said. The reasons for the drop were favourable business conditions in Britain and Western Europe, and the large number of persons leaving New Zealand for 12 months or longer. The number of those leaving was deducted from the total. The present outflow was nearly 8000 persons in 12 months. In these circumstances, it was impossible to predict results for the next four years, said the Minister. The Government would, however, give financial assistance to' the maximum number of British persons who were willing to come to New Zealand, and who could be accommodated by friends, relatives, or employers. , The subject of non-British immigrants would be considered when two immigration authorities visited New Zealand next month. Mr Hanan said. Mr Fierfre Jacobsen, Deputy-Director of the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration, Geneva, and Mr C. O. Wendling, the committee’. 1 chief representative in Canberra would arrive in New Zealand on February 1 for several days’ discussion with Ministers and departmental officials on immigration matters. Mr J. G. Suurhof, Netherlands Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, would arrive in New Zealand on February 2, arid during his visit

would discuss the possibility of increasing the flow of Dutch migrants. Mr Hanan said.

Mr Hanan said that some people seemed to be under the impression that New Zealand was behind other countries in the production of. new houses, and was consequently falling behind in the international competition for manpower. Published figures contradicted this suggestion. Statistics showed that on a population basis, New Zealand, with Australia >and the German Federal Republic, was leading the world in the rate of construction of new dwellings, he said.

For the three years from 1950, the number of dwellings completed annually for each 2,000,000 of population averaged: New Zealand, Australia, and German Federal Republic, each many more than 16,000; United States, almost 16,000; Canada, 11,500; the Netherlands, 11,400; and Britain, 8300. Prospects of obtaining a new house or being able to build one were therefore as good or better in New Zealand than the prospects of obtaining or building one in any of the countries mentioned,'•'said Mr Hanan. The other side of the picture was that the New Zealand Government was simply not prepared to give financial assistance to married couples to migrate unless accommodation for them was assured, said the Minister. Mr Hanan said that even worse confusion of thought appeared to exist about what was being accoinplished in the way of immigration intake. To obtain a true picture, it was necessary to look at the rate of population growth, natural increase and immigration combined. Comparison of Increase On this basis, available figures showed that between 1941 and 1951. the population of Canada increased by 21.7 per cent., that of New Zealand increased by 20.8 per cent., and that of Australia by 19.5 per cent., Mr Hanan said. New Zealand’s rate of increase therefore compared more than favourably. The increase would have been even greater if the Government had been prepared to sacrifice quality for quantity, said the Minister. Mr Hanan explained that although the net intake of immigrants in the present financial year would, for the reasons mentioned, drop to 10,000, the number of assisted immigrants within that total would be about 4500, and would therefore show a decrease of only about 1000. For the four years ended March, 1950, the average number of assisted immigrants received yearly was 1340, and for the four years ended March, 1954, it was 5440. In all, by March 31, 1955, the total post-war net intake was expected to reach 100,000, pf whom nearly 69,000 had paid their own way entirely, concluded the Minister.