IMMIGRATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8813, 3 March 1909, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

HOW ASSISTED PASSENGERS ARE SELECTED. (Pub Press Association.l . DUNEDIN, March 2. The Prime Minister to-day received a reply dated March Ist from the High Commissioner in reply to a cablegram sent by him on February 26th concerning assisted passages to immigrants. The reply received is as follows:— 1. All New Zealand Government assisted, immigrants are strictly limited to farm workers, female domestic workers, and those nominated by friends in New Zealand* 2. The New Zealand Shipping Company has had lectures. 3. All shipping companies and shipping agents are naturally desirous of obtaining passengers. 4. I am making enquiries as to whether any reduction in passages outside of those dealt with by the High Commissioner is granted by the shipping companies. 5. I do not hesitate to inform unsuitable persons of the position of the New Zealand labour market. Sir Joseph stated that he was cabling to point out to the shipping companies that anything in the shape of a general "selection of people by them unsuitable for absorption in the Dominion should be prevented.

ASSISTING DOMESTICS. CI-IRISTCHURCH. March 2. Sir J. G. Ward, who passed through on his way to Invercafgill, was asked regarding the resolution arrived at by the meeting of ladies held in this city urging that the old system of free immigration should be returned to in respect to domestic servants. Sir Joseph said that the resolution had not come under his notice. "The Government are," ho added, "giving assisted passages to domestics, but I do not think that therris any chance of us giving free passages. If wo contribute towards the cost of their passages, I think wo are doing our part."