IMMIGRATION POLICY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1562, 18 June 1920, Page 5

IMMIGRATION POLICY.

RECENT CHANGES ENPLATXEB. FREEDOM OF NOMINATION. The changes made in the Government immigration policy were explained by the Under-Secretary for Immigration, Mr H. D. Thomson, to an Auckland "Herald" reporter yesterday. The nomination of immigrants hitherto had been restricted to relatives by blood or marriage of nominators resident in the Dominion, said Mr Thomson, but this restriction had been removed, and nomination was now practically free. The benefit offered under the general scheme -was a reduction of £l3 on each fare when a resident in New Zealand applied for an assisted-passage for a person residing in the United Kingdom. He had to undertake not only to find employment for the immigrant, but, also, to make provision for his or her maintenance after arrival in the Dominion. No persons who have attained the age # of 50 were eligible for nomination; all married men must be accompanied by their wives and children. In view of the great demand for farm labourers special facilities were offered to bona tide farm labourers employed as such in Great Britain. These men could obtain passage to New Zealand for £lO. Everyone either had a position awaiting him or temporary home with friends, apart from certain immigrants whose friends guarantee to find employment, meanwhile maintaining them. The only persons whom the Government assists without their having previously obtained work are unmarried farm labourers and domestic servants. Liberal attractions are now offered domestic servants, who must have been in domestic service for "J 2 months prior to being given the benefits of the scheme. They are entitled to free passages, and. in addition receive a grant of £2 for expenses on the journey. Anyone in New Zealand may thus nominate a girl to enter their own homes. Girls who have neither friends nor employment to go to in the Dominion, may apply to the High Commissioner, and they must accept positions through the Immigration Department. All that the Government demands in return is that they continue in domestic service, not necessarily with the same employer, for twelve months after arrival. Mr Thomson said the Department was prepared to receive nominations of skilled workers, married or single. New Zealand employers who satisfied the Department that they have exhausted every means of obtaining skilled labour in the Dominion, may nominate as many men as they require. Selection of these men has to be made by the firm's representative in the United Kingdom, and approved by the High Commissioner. Statistical returns taken in December and January last indicated* by the number of machines lying idle in the various industries, that there was then a shortage of 12,900 workers. As the new arrivals would have to join their respective unions they would not in any way affect the existing rates of wages. Of 1100 immigrants who would shortly arrive at Wellington by the Mahana, he said. 850 were fuily provided for by the Department; the remaining 250 were under the Imperial Government's Overseas Settlement scheme, and where the necessary particulars had been forwarded from London, these people also had had everything arranged for them.