OVERSEAS IMMIGRANTS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 16 December 1920, Page 5

OVERSEAS IMMIGRANTS

DEPARTMENT REPLIES TO COMPLAINTS,

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION,; AUCKLAND, Dec. 15. Aa explanation of the positior in regard to mugrants to New Zealanu' under tnes Imperial Overseas Settlement Committee s scheme, was made by Mr Thomson, Undei'-Secretary ior Immigration. Complaints have been made that some or these immigrants, wno have travelled by way of Australia,, have not been met on, arrival by officers of the immigration Department, and have had i.\ dl*£eulty m finding accommodation Mr Thomson said the grounds for sucii complaints arose wholly from the fact tnat in the cases concerned the Department did .not receive any notification to inspect these people. Some hurdreds of immigrants under the Imperial scheme had been booked to Australia in many cases withou* «ny arrangement tor then- conveyance *„ i, T ew Zealand in come cases the Department had been advised of their posit.'on, andVhad arranged passages for thorn by intercolonial steamers. In others the immigrants had not approached the authorities, but had themselves paid for passages, and consequently the Department .knew -nothing of them until tney were m the Dominion. Recognising that tne position was unsatisfactory, the Government had telegraphed to thy High. Commissioner on November 27. asking jam\ to make representations to the Imperial Committee with a view to preventing such complications.. Sir Jas. Allen had replied that it was not intended that Jmnerial emigrants should travel to New Zealand by the Australian route. Coupons for passages are issued by the Imperial Committee to approved ex-soldiers, and. these were available 'through the ordinary emigration agents, and thus the committee lost I control. There are approximately 4000 men, not inoluding wives and families, waiting for passages to New Zealand, to whom the coupons have been issued, and as these make their own arrangements with the local agents, the High Commissioner cannot control them. Those who travel via&Australia do so without authority or knowledge of the committee or of the High Commissioner, therefore the Government of New Zealand is in no way liable for any expenses. Mr Thomson said the Government had now asked the High Commissioner to arrange with the imperial Committee and shipping agents and companies that no more emigrants for. New Zealand shall be despatched via Australia. The Government has suggested the issue of a circular to all the companies and agents concerned, instructing them that persons presenting warrants for New. Zealand are to be booked by the direct ■ route only, and has asked the High Commissioner to arrange with, the Imperial Committee for printing of this instruction on all future warrants. The Department understands that a considerable number, of emigrants are> al-$ ready en route via • Australia, so that the difficulties previously experienced cannot be immediately remedied. Its policy is to afford every possible assistance to immigrants,, whether tney arrive under the Imperial or the New Zealand Government's scheme, and, so far as it can obtain; information of ffiiem the same facilities as those travelling by the direct route.