"WHO ARE YOU?"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 7

"WHO ARE YOU?"

'QUESTIONS FOR TRAVELLERS WHY DETAILED INFORMATipN IS SECURED

"Some criticism has been made in regard to the forms which all persons entering the Dominion are required to fill up and sign before being allowed, to land," stated the Minister, of. Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) to a representative of "The Post" today, "and it is' desirable that some of the reasons necessitating the collection of such particulars should be clearly stated. In the first place, it is to be noted, that these criticisms are mostly voiced by_ New Zealanders returning after a brief visit to Australia and seldom by visitors, from other parts of the world. The system adopted is in conformity with, the recommendations of the British. Empire Statistical Conference, and a similar system, has been in force in South Africa and Canada for a number of years;, while the inquiries to hecompleted before entering the United Sttes of America are much more detailed and inquisitorial. "Before the introduction of'presentday forms only bare numbers of passengers inward and outwards were secured, but now particulars are obtained which enable the passengers to be classified and which give necessary information in regard to the population changes. The present system enables the Government Statistician to make estimates of the population between the takings of the census. The details as to sex and age enable the constitution of the population in this respect to be kept accurately, which is most important in any consideration affecting the .health of the people and of assistance in compiling deathrate tables, etc.. The character of the gain or loss by migration is obtained ; also the number of race aliens coming in or going out. Uris most important that particulars should be available to detect any influx of Asiatics and also to know their sex, age, occupation, and -where they come from.- Equally important is it to know the numbers of other aliens and t"rieir\ nationalities, which, apart from the information on these forms, cannot be easily distinguished or ascertained. " Similarly, in regard to European 'immigrants,' it is most important to know how many are our own people returning after a holiday abroad; how many are tourists paying us a temporary visit; how many are commercial travellers representing their firms on a tour of the Dominion; how many are merely paying a visit as entertainers, theatricals, or sporting representatives, and, of more importance than any of these, how many are new arrivals intending to permanently settle in the country! Only by the use of full forms can this information be obtained.

"Having thus obtained the numbers of intending permanent immigrants, it is equally important to know their occupations, so that it may be seen whether they are supplying the needs, of the Dominion or otherwise crowding an already overcrowded market. AnotEcr important point is to know what countries these immigrants are coming from, then- nationalities, and parentage, which are valuable indications as to. whether they are likely to strengthen or weaken our population. Similarly, in regard to persons permanently departing from our shores, we are able to ascertain their country of destination, to judge ' what superior attractions are there offered, as well as ascertain from the particulars supplied whether the people so leaving are a loss to the country or not. The number of tourists visiting New Zealand is an indication of the success or otherwise of the publicity given to our' various attractions. As each tourist spends a considerable amount in the Dominion, some idea of the vake of this traffic to the country can be ascertained while its increase or decrease can also be closely watched... ■'-' Other points.might be- enlarged upon, as indicating the value of the information obtained, such as the number of New Zealanlers going abroad, with length of absence, and-the number of people visiting the Dominion . health resorts. _ All tho particulars are valuable and _ important in different ways, and the information can only be obtained by means of these individual statements collected from persons entering and leaving the Dominion. The Government really imposes very' little trouble or delay on those concerned."