IMMIGRATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 2 August 1922, Page 5

IMMIGRATION

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

(From our Parliamentary Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, This Day. In presenting the annual report of the Immigrating Department in the House, the Minister of Immigration made a statement, in reply to recent criticism of the cost of immigration. The Minister said the Leader of the Opposition had said the cost of immigration for the past year was 11247,000. -The Government had not spent anything like this sum on immigration m the past year. The fact was that the department’s vote had been in credit for three successive financial years. Parliament in 1918-19 apportioned £20,000 for immigration and the expenditure was £23,675, but there were credits amounting to £35,693, so that deducting the amount expended the Department was in credit at the end of the year by £12,018. The vote in 1919-20 was £25,000, the expenditure £79,652, credits £142,215, net credits £625,671. The vote 1920-21 was £16,000, expenditure £112,553, credits £120,469, net credit £7806. The vote in 1921-22- was £225,000, expenditure £324,647, credits £77,137. On the face of these last figures, it did appear as if x. 247,510 was spent on immigration, but the real cost was £90,875, as £156,635. went to meet the claims for chartered and emergency ships, the liability for which was incurred after the Avar and for some years following. This expenditure, and the fact that the Department was in credit for Hbree years, were accounted for by the fact that during the war and for some years afterwards, the military authorities at Home controlled all shipping vessels employed to bring back troops from the war and also carried soldiers j wives and fiancees at full fare passengers, nominated and .other classes of assisted immigrants. The New Zealand Government was to pay for these controlled vessels coming to New Zealand and received all passage money. As a set off all fares were paid into the public account, but owing to the difficulty in arriving at a satisfactory settlement, the first payments, amounting to £156,000, Ayere only made last year. Further claims were under discussion.

The number of immigrants avlio had arrived in the Dominion from 1918-19 to 1922 (both years )mclusive) Avas 21,829 at a cost of, approximately, £8 per head, Mr Wilford moved an amendment to tho proposal to table the report, to the effect that while considering that a strong immigration policy \vas essential to the country, and putting of tho policy into effect during acute unemployment, Avas unwarranted. Mr Fraser seconded the amendment which found general Labour and partial Liberal support. Labour members expressed Avillingness to aid immigration Avhen they Avere assured that the people already Imre had housing and employment. Air Holland further’ appealed to the Government to let intending immigrants knoAV the real position in Now Zealand. The amendment was defeated by 33 to 17.

Tiie debate, in the absence of the Prime Minister who is suffering from a cold, lacked animation. Replying to a question by the Leader of the Opposition, the PostmasterGeneral said he would place before the House full information as to the renewal of the San Francisco and Vancouver mail contracts. There had been a hitch as to the terra of the contract, as the suggested extension for a year would not be suitable for mail or cargo purposes. There had been a saving of about £28,000 already on the carriage of meat. Mr Wilford: “Is it at an increased

price?” The Minister; “No. A considerable reduction on the whole.”