EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 January 1926, Page 3

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.

WHAT NEW ZEALAND IS DOING. A CREDITABLE RECORD. Repeated references in the cablegrams to the necessity for a comprehensive scheme of .Empire settlement raise the query: What is the Dpminion doing m this direction ? Inquiries made established the lact that New Zealand is doing its full share towards relieving -Britain’s surplus population troubles, says the Doninnon. It was officially ascertained that approvals for migrants from the United Kingdom to New Zealand are averaging 1000 a month, a useful increase on the averages for the same period last year, when the figure stood at 800. Recent official advices from Home intention that the (berthing reservations up to the end of next month are 4250. 11l this connection, however, the effect of the recent maritime trouble has to be taken into consideration, and as a result oi the dislocation created, the berthing; reservations will fall short of the requirements by about 1000. In other words, had there been no congestion, arrangements could have been made for the Dominion to absorb an additional 1000 immigrants: and since the problem of Empire settlement is an acute one, it is hard on New Zealand that a plan which was working perfectly smoothly should receive a temporary check of this character It is known that, but for the seamen’s strike, the year would have been a record one lor immigration, as far as New Zealand is concerned. The Immigration Department's experience since the inauguration of the scheme has been that the newcomers have been successfully absorbed. During the past five months up to the present date approximately 40,0dd Government assisted migrants have arrived in the country, and of that number, according to the official figures. the failures do not amount to one per cent Surveying the manner in which the newly-arrived settlers, who are granted loans, meet their obligations when repayment time arrives, it is interesting to note that at the present time there are in existence about 700 cases in which migrants were obliged to borrow the passagemoney on a fifty-fifty basis from th» Imperial and New Zealand Governments, and of that number only live per cent, have failed to pay the first instalment on due date.

Some time ago advice was received here that the percentages of losses on Canadian and Australian loans was very high, and from the frank statements made from time to time by the Overseas Committee it seems that New Zealand is regarded as (to borrow one of the expressions used) “the one bright spot in immigration.” An important aspect of the Dominion’s immigration scheme is the placing on the land of English public school hoys. The quota up to the end of January was filled some time ago, and it is expected that the February party will be the last until May. Since the initiation of the scheme approximately 352 boys have been placed with New Zealand farmers, and judging by the correspondence received at the London office parents have been more than satisfied with what the Government has done. An interim report submitted to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce early in December showed that of the 115 boys so far brought out to Taranaki all but four have made good or were making good. A proportion of boys, it was found, were not adapted to farming, and these had been found positions in the town aim were doing well. The concluding para, graph of the report will bear reproduction: "Boys are not being brought out to provide cheap labour for farmers,” it pointed out. "They are being brought out to strengthen tin Dominion and to relieve the OM Country. Tiie training ol boys should lie regarded as a national duty, as the farmers’ contribution towards Empire settlement, and we are glad to say that the great majority of farmers entrusted with the training of boys take ibis view of their responsibilities.” In addition to the 352 public school boys mentioned above, a total of 14.0 hoys have been brought out under the Flock House scheme, and 174 by the Salvation Army. This makes the total G 72. but within the course of a few days the 700 mark will have been pasesd. Arriving hy the Arawn on Tuesday next are 30 Flock House hoys and ten public school boys, and on January 23. ex the Rualiine, there will be a further ton public school bo vs.