ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17486, 2 June 1920, Page 6

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.

Under proper safeguards, the system of granting assisted passages to immigrants nominated by residents in the Dominion has many advantages, and Mr. Nosworthy has good reason for his commendation of it. Residents in New Zealand may nominate any near relatives by blood or marriage, or, irrespective of relationship, domestic or farm workers, and on condition that employment is guaranteed for the nominated persons and that the latter satisfy the requirements of the High Commissioner's office, assisted passages are granted. The Outstanding advantage of this method is that the decision to emigrate from Britain depends on the advice of friends in New Zealand and that the new arrivals are | assured of some assistance in establishing themselves in their new environment. It has certainly been appreciated. During the eleven years from its introduction to the beginning of the war, 25,527 assisted immigrants! arrived, and of them 13,559 were nominated from New Zealand. Difficulties may, however, arise from this unofficial selection unless care is taken to insure that only immigrants suited by occupation and experience are granted passages; the guarantee of employment may not always be enforceable, and any laxity will inevitably cause hardship to individuals and loss to the country. Complaints in Auckland and Wellington show that- such unsuitable immigrants have been included in recent contingents from England, and the first care of the

Department' must be to avoid such costly mistakes. ' There is a proven shortage of certain classes of, labour, and until these deficiencies have been supplied there can be no excuse for wasting any portion of the scanty shipping accommodation by granting passages to people with no reasonable prospect of finding satisfactory employment or of giving any useful service to the community. By now the Department should have ascertained in detail the country's requirements in respect of public works employees, farm and domestic workers, factory hands and skilled artisans, and should be able to direct every assisted immigrant to an employer prepared to give a reasonable guarantee of <anpicyment. Unless its operations arc conducted on such systematic lines, the Department will simpiy create a mass of difficulties for itself and the Dominion.