HELPING NEW ARRIVALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17483, 29 May 1920, Page 7

HELPING NEW ARRIVALS

» • IMMIGRATION FACILITIES.

UNSATISFACTORY POSITION.

AUCKLAND OFFICE NEEDED.

The need for the establishment of a Government immigration bureau in Auckland has been emphasised by the recent arrival of a large number of immigrants. Before the war, when there was no Immigration Department, representatives of the Labour Department used to get personally into touch with the new arrivals, and 1 were able to help a great many before they went to situations. Now that a special Immigration Department has been established, the whole system of dealing with these people is controlled from Wellington, and as there is no bureau here, officials are sent up to meet those who arrivo in Auckland. The absence of any bureau or resident officer bore makes it very difficult for many people who desire information, both immigrants and prospective employers. Scores- of people, desiring to nominate friends from England; are at a loss as to bow to proceed, and as no Department is permitted to infringe upon the work of any other, all that can be done is to refer these inquirers to Wellington. The announcement last week that a number of domestic workers had arrived i by the lonic, led to a veritable avalanche', of inquiries being received from eager mistresses, to all of whom the same reply had to be made—that no Department nor officer in Auckland knew anything whatever as to the position with regard to girls coming out to New Zealand under the Government scheme. This has resulted j in a good deal of dissatisfaction, and it is. feifc that more detailed information on the whole question of immigration should ho available in a city which is l bound to j be the first port of call for a Luge percentage of immigrants from overseas. The, opinion has been expressed that there should be branches of this Department, one of the most important at the present time, in every centre of New Zealand, 'and that so.far as the women immigrants; are concerned, the officers of the Government Womens' Employment Bureaux, who are thoroughly in touch with local conditions and requirements, should be made the representatives of the Immigration; Department. Another point which has. been criticised in connection with the i present system is that no woman repre-1 sentative of the Department is enabled to meet the girls and women arriving in Auckland, although this was invariably done before the establishment of the Immigration Department, and the dissociation of the Labour Department from this important Government activity.