EMPIRE MIGRATION

Evening Star, Issue 18812, 10 December 1924, Page 9

EMPIRE MIGRATION

FLOW TO HEW ZEALAND. RECCED YEAR ASSURED. A record year for the flow of British emigrants to Mew Zealand is already assured (says the Auckland ‘Herald’). With still nearly four months of the current financial year to run, the total number of assisted passages during the whole period is to he 10,000 It was mentioned hy the Prime Minister, Mr W. F. Massey, on his recent visit to Auckland that the total would he not less than that number for the year ending March 31, 1925. Also that the Government was giving special attention to stimulating the immigration of men and •women with families, agricultural workers and domestics, and that there would be no relaxation of tho present policy of the Administration. It should be noted that the prospective record total of immigrants this year docs not include the relatively large number of new arrivals who came to New Zealand without any assistance at all cither from the Imperial Government under the provisions of tho Empire Settlement Act, 'or from the New Zealand Government. Last year arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom totalled 11,480, excluding returning New Zealanders. Of that total 6,752 were assisted by the. New Zealand Government. The gain in tho aggregate this year should be notably substantial. NOMINATION AND ASSISTANCE.

By far tho greater part of assisted immigration is now effected hy tho nomination system, which has proved to ho exceptionally successful, since it practically solves the former problem of absorption. Nominators must undertake to find employment for tho nominees, and also to mako provision for their maintenance after arrival in tho dominion. This, in practice, of course, does not touch perfection, but the failures are declared to bo almost negligible. Last year 5,994 persons in the United Kingdom were nominated by Now Zealand residents for assisted and free pascages to tho dominion. There were only 758 British applications for similar assistance. Tho Now Zealand Government assisted fifty-two individuals, tho Imperial Government assisted forty-nine, while both Governments together gave assistai eo to 6,752 immigrants. Tho special agreement between tho Imperial and dominion Governments came into operation on July 1, 1923, and it expires at the end of next March. Its outstanding service has been in the form of a reduction in passage rates to a level that represents the most advantageous conditions ever offered in respect of New Zealand immigration. The result this year constitutes a record tide of British emigration to this pleasant land of opportunity and comfortable living. Each of tho ten provincial districts of the dominion obtains a- quota of immigrants, though tho measure of distribution is, of course, determined largely by the nominations. On this principle Auckland, as the greatest and most attractive district for population and opportunity for employment, easily secures the largest proportion of tho total number of immigrants. Auckland’s quota last year was 2,205 put <4£ the officially recorded total of 5,994 assisted immigrants. Wellington came next with 1.401, then Canterbury with 724. Otago 579, Hawke’s Bay 325, Nelson 289, Taranaki 156, Southland 144, Westland 132, and Marlborough 39. Auckland’s number included 679 men, 725 women, and 801 children.

There were 649 domestics in the total of immigrants last year, Wellington obtaining 267 and Auckland 169 of the number. Auckland district obtained the greatest proportion of farm laborers and miners, with and without families, the quota being 246 out of a total of 745.

EMPLOYMENT AND SETTLEMENT. No organisation excels the Salvation Army in respect of practical social service in behalf of immigrants. And the Army’s records concerning the initial reception and absorption of immigrants into the industry and life of the community provide cheerful reading. Each boat that brings migrants to Auckland is attended by Staff Captain G. Davies, immigration officer, who has the right temperament and enthusiasm for the work.

Captain Davies has ready praise for the Government and its- immigration officers, explaining t-Vit on the arrival of an emigrant ship, to revive an old phrase, the latter meet tho immigrants and give them a practical' welcome without fuss. The first encouragement is to exchange the immigrants’ notes for New Zealand currency without any charge. This little act of consideration is much appreciated by the new arrivals, who naturally would dislike the ordinary financial rule that a “ John Bradbury ” note, with ail the power of the Bank of England behind it, is rather less-valuable on arrival in New Zealand than a dilapidated dominion bank note. So there is no exchange rate problem for the immigrant. State officials take charge_ of the arrangements for the distribution of immigrants to provincial districts other than Auckland. Most of the .migrants for Auckland are attended to by their nominators. Those who are without friends are guided by tho Salvation Army immigration oflicer and assistants and other social service workers. OVERCOMING DESPONDENCY. The first thing that has to bo guarded against is the tendency toward despondency after the newcomers have left tho ship and parted from their shipboard associates. It is then that friendless immigrants realise they are strangers in a strange land, even though the features and characteristics of Homo are everywhere apparent. “ It is surprising, however,” says Captain Davies, “ how quickly that initial feeling of despondency gives way to hope and cheerfulness as soon as theso immi-

grants are settled in employment. As far as onr organisation is concerned, wo concentrate on obtaining employment in the country for immigrants. It is bv far tho best tonic for now arrivals, and the best preparation for 'permanent and prosperous sett-lenient in New Zealand. There is no difficulty about obtaining work on larms for immigrants. “Naturally, the average farmer prefers an immigrant with practical experience, hut numbers of farmers are prepared to accept inexperienced immigrants who are willing to work and to learn the methods of tho primary industry in New Zealand. Scores of farmers in the Auckland district are now prepared to employ immigrants. A willing man need not be long out of work in this district.

“ Tho nomination system has practically solved the former problem of industrial absorption of immigrants. Hero and there nommatois fail in discharging their obligations, but these failures are neither numerous nor pronounced. And tho State good to new arrivals. The present system of immigration is very satisfactory. EFFORTS TO MAKE GOOD.

“ Wo find,’’ continued Captain Davies, “ that the- majority of immigrants, as soon as they secure employment, to mako good and become contented Now Zealanders by adoption. Occasionally, of course, there'are misfits, and even wasters ; but thev are the unusual exception. Tho same typo is indigenous in every country, and no community need cast stones. _ As a whole, the immigrant from Great Britain is a desirable tvpe, and presents m no wav anything of‘the racial problem that is being experienced in some other counYes,” observed a motherly in (he Salvation Army immigration office, “and most- of the. immigrants from Home arc very nice people.”