Fewer U.K. migrants

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 16

Fewer U.K. migrants

The number of Britons emigrating to New Zealand has been falling steadily since July, 1974, compared with 1973. In December there were 47 per cent fewer than in December, 1973.

The Minister of Immigration (Mr Colman) said this yesterday in reply to a letter from a correspondent who questioned figures published in “The Press” for the immigrants for the year ended November 30, 1974. The correspondent, Helen Broughton, was concerned that the figures in the report showed an increase of 4000 over the year.'

Mr Colman said the figure on which the report was based provided only a measure of the total movement of people in and out of the country. They included immigrants, tourists, visitors, and Nev/ Zealand residents returning home. An excess of arrivals was expected in November because of the influx of tourists, said Mr Colman.

In the first half of the year immigration numbers remained above that for 1973, but in the last half of the year there was a change to fewer immigrants. Over the whole year there was a decrease of 6.6 per cent in the number of permanent immigrants from the United Kingdom.

Motor rally.—The 1975 Heatwav international motor rally will start in Auckland on July 6 and finish in Wellington on July 12. The rally will cover 4000 Jcilometres in the North Island.