U.S. IMMIGRATION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 4, 5 July 1926, Page 10

U.S. IMMIGRATION

NEW OUOTA BASIS

ALTERATION NEXT YEAR,

The new "fiscal year" for quota immigration to the United States of America opened on Thursday. On Friday the United States Consul for Auckland (Mr. W. F. Boyle) imparted some interesting' information to the "Auckland Star" conjoining the quota system, which is to be altered next year. "The quota year does not correspond with the calendar year," said Mr. Boyle. "'lt commences on Ist July, and ends on 30th June of the following year. Under tho United States immigration law each country's quota is based on 2 per cent, of the nationals residing in the United States according to the Census of 1890, the American Congress evidently taking the view that at that time the population of the United States" was more representative of what it was desired America should be. "Prior to that we had a quota based on the Census of 1910. In 1890, of course, New Zealand, being a new country, had very few of her people living in the United States. The same thing applies to Australia, and the quotas from these countries are therefore abnormally small. But no country is allowed fewer than -100, and New Zealand comes in as one of the minimum countries, and is allowed this number. Otherwise, on a basis of 2 per cent., she would only be able to send 35 or 40. Australia, with a population of 6,000,000, is only allowed a quota—that is the penalty of her being a new country with a very small representation in the United States in 1890. TO BE MORE AND MORE BRITISH. "This, however, will be the last year of the present quota basis, the law providing that after Ist July, 1927, quotas are to be assigned on the basis of the national descent of the people of the United States according to the Census of 1920, which was the last taken. This data was to have been gathered by the Director of the United States Census, but it appears that the records have not been sufficiently completed to work out accurate data, but from the figures so far available to the Director of the Census, -75 per cent, of the people of the United States trace their descent to the British Islands. "I regret that I have no information as to how this is to be worked out as regards New Zealand," continued Mr. Boyle. "However, this is not on ratio lines, but on national lines, which, of course, works out to the disadvantage of the newer countries. The quota for each country is under the control of the Consul-Gen-eral—in the case of New Zealand with the Consul-General at Wellington. Half of the numbers allowed have to be set aside to accommodate preference^ claims under the quota. Preferential claims are those of parents and unmarried children oJ citizens resident in the United States. Children under 18 years of age and the wives of American citizens come in outside the quota. ALIEN WIFE A FOREIGNER. | "It must be remembered," said the Consul, "that under American law a. foreign girl marrying an American does not thereby acquire American citizenship in the same way as an alien marrying a Britisher becomes British. And though the law provides that an American husband may send for his foreign wife, and bring her in under the quota, no provision is made. for an American woman who marries a foreigner to bring in her husband. ' "The American quota assigned to the Auckland Consulate last year was not exhausted until practically ten months after it began to run. On this account, persons desiring to apply during the present year were advised to call at this office when it opened at 9 a.m. on Friday, when the quota began. As the day for the opening of the quota came nearer, it became certain that numbers in access of _ the twenty quota numbers assigned to this Auckland office would present theraselves. At this late date a waiting list could not have been established without injustice to many persons who had called but had not left their addresses. Consequently, the only way to allot the numbers seemed to be by ballot. On the opening of the office on Friday, therefore, a ballot was drawn among those in waiting at the appointed hour. Twenty persons were allotted numbers, and 22 were placed in sequence of rotation, as the names were drawn, for the waiting list."