IMMIGRATION TO N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28950, 18 July 1959, Page 15

IMMIGRATION TO N.Z.

Drop In Assisted Passages (New Zeaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 17. A total of 4727 assisted immigrants arrived in New Zealand during the year up to March 31, last, compared with 5030 in the previous year, says the annual report of the Department of Labour, tabled in Parliament today. The report says that during 1958 the assisted immigration policy was reviewed in the light of New Zealand’s economic position and it was decided to curtail assisted immigration from the United Kingdom and unassisted alien immigration. Assisted immigration from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark has been suspended. The curtailment of assisted immigration from the United Kingdom has reduced the rate of annual intake to about 1500 persons. As United Kingdom citizens have the right of unrestricted entry to New Zealand, no reduction in the number of British people paying their own fares to New Zealand is anticipated. For the year up to March, last, the number of people who arrived with the stated purpose of permanent residence, was 24,852, a decrease of 1402 on the previous year. The number of permanent departures was 10,985, compared with 8108 for the previous year. I The net gain was, therefore, 13,867, a decrease of 4279 on the gain in the previous year.