IMMIGRATION OF AUSTRIANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15174, 13 December 1912, Page 5

IMMIGRATION OF AUSTRIANS.

CAUSES OF SLIGHT INCREASE.

The total number of Austrians (that is of persons born in Austria) in. New Zealand! in 1911, was 2131, and the number of immigrants for that year. reached 194. Indications point to a larger influx this year, for which a number of causes are responsible.

In Croatia and Dalmatia, where most of the " Austrians" in the Auckland pro-, vince come from, the land is rocky and poor, and emigration continues steadily, even in prosperous years. The September crops have been a failure .there, this year, owing to a bad season, in addition to which mid-winter, a time when work is scarce, is coming on. The financial pinch, the effects of which are being felt all over the world, has been rendered more acute in Austria, owing to enforced preparations for a possible war. The high price of kauri gum has no doubt attracted a few, but a greater percentage of this year's immigrants from Austrian provinces have come out in answer to letters from friends settled here, who are labouring upon railways and roads, or settled upon farms. In this latter class tho tendency is to leave winegrowing for' dairying and agricultural fanning. Tho licenses required by the Government to grow wines and to dig gum, both somewhat speculative propositions, lia.ve deterred many Austrians from following these industries.