Immigration Flow To Be Slowed Down

Press, Volume C, Issue 29682, 28 November 1961, Page 18

Immigration Flow To Be Slowed Down

(N2. Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 27. The Government had decided to slow down temporarily the flow of assisted immigrants to New Zealand, the Minister of Immigration (Mr Shand) announced today. Recruitment of unskilled workers will be suspended and in future all immigrants except single women will be required to make a contribution towards the cost of their passages on the basis of £25 for single men and £5O for family groups including dependent children up to 17 years of age.

This contribution will not apply to persons who have a.ready been interviewed in the united Kingdom or whole nominations have been accepted by the department before this date. As a temporary measure, the United Kingdom assisted passage scheme will be confined to: (a) Married immigrants up to 45 years of age (other than unskilled workers) with not more than two dependent children, nominated by sponsors in New Zealand who guarantee to provide accommodation for the immigrant families on arrival. (b) Single immigrants other than unskilled male workers (up to 35 years of age). Mr Shand said the effect of these restrictions was calculated to limit the number of assisted immigrants from the United Kingdom to 4000 during 1962 and to 2500 a year after that. Change Expected “Although the level of economical activity in the community is still very high and the demand for labour acute, it is likely that as we adjust ourselves during the next year to the lesser flow of imports forced upon us by the deterioration in the prices for our exports, the situation will change," said Mr Shand. “We may have to face a period during which it is not easy to fit a considerable flow of immigrants into our economy. “The process of selecting and checking assisted immigrants takes months and restrictions applied now will

not really begin to take effect until the second half of next year. ‘The desirability of maintaining a steady rate of immigration under normal conditions is fully realised, but the need to ease the pressures which are likely to result from immigration when the effects of the enforced curtailment of imports and other necessary economic measures have their full impact on the country's economy cannot be ignored. • “In adjusting our policy to effect a curtailment of assisted immigration, action is being taken to maintain the recruitment of skilled workers, and also young women for such occupations as teaching, nursing, typing, domestic, and, in fact, most occupations in which young women are employed and in which there is likely to be a continuing shortage. “The temporary curtailment will also be effected in a manner which will enable recruitment to be stepped

up again with a minimum of delay when economic conditions improve,” Mr Shand said. Latest Statistics "The latest immigration statistics disclose that there has been a considerable increase in the net gain from immigration during the six months ended September 30, 1961. “This is due to an increase in total permanent arrivals from the United Kingdom and other British Commonwealth countries (particularly Australia) and to a certain reduction in the number of permanent departures. “The restrictions now being applied to assisted immigration will not take effect until the second half of next year, and if the present trends continue, the net gain from immigration during the year ending March 31, 1962, could well be in the vicinity of 15,000 to 16.000, compared with a net increase of less than 7000 in the last two years,” Mr Shand said.