MEANS OF IMMIGRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18297, 13 January 1923, Page 10

MEANS OF IMMIGRANTS.

SOME POSSESS LARGE SUMS.

AN ANSWER TO CRITICISM. [BT ..* TELEaaAI'H.~-OWN -CORRESPONDENT J WELLINGTON, Friday.

The statement is frequently made, and has recently been repeated, that the country is being flooded with the wrong type of immigrant, and that men, women, and children are being landed in New Zealand "practically without a penny." Inquiries were made at the office of the Department of Immigration to investigate the accuracy of the statement. The Buapehu, which berthed at Wellington yesterday, brought the latest band of immigrants from Britain. They numbered 185, ; '■'■: and included 40 domestics. With the exception of the domestics, all were coming to join parsons who had nominated them. They had beengaaranteed employment and accommodation. The domestics, the immigration officials state, are exceedingly easy to place, so that the 40 who came by the Ruapehu will go at once to work. ; \

In response to an inquiry as to whether any of the new arrivals • had means, it was explained that many immigrants deposit sways of money with the High Commissioner for New Zealand before leaving Britain, and that. when they land in this country the department, which has; been notified by the High Commissioner of the amounts paid in, hands over equal amounts to the depositors. ' No less than £4113. 10s was paid over on this "system to arrivals by the Ruapehu. In addition, some of the immigrants by that vessel had British Treasury notes for various amounts. The department cashed £800 worth. : -

The sums mentioned do not, of course, represent more than a part of the resources possessed by the immigrants. Some of them carry considerable sums in notes, and, among the Ruapehu's immigrants, f there were several whom the immigration officials know had sums of more than £100 each. Included in the amount of £4113 10s' mentioned above, was one of nearly £3000, and others of £z6Z, £225, and £150. : > , Another immigrant, ship recently brought an immigrant with a capital of £3070. -'v.- ?'■■•■: = ."•.::,' . ■/." -