IMMIGRATION PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 10

IMMIGRATION PROGRESS

POLICY OF DEPARTMENT.

ARRIVALS DURING YEAR. - PLANS FOR ASSISTANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The total number -,oi arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year ended March 31, 1923, was 11,341, excluding returning New Zealanders. Of the total number of persons arriving, 6737 were assisted by the New Zealand Government. Of the whole volume of immigrants, nominated immigrants formed 33 per cent. This information is contained in the report of the Immigration Department . for the year ended March 31 last, which was presented to . the House of Representatives to-day. The report explains the provision of the Empire settlement scheme under which the Imperial Government may enter into an agreement with a Dominion .Government for the payment of up to one-half of the passage money. It states that, acting under instructions, the department has for the present not entered into any agreement regarding a development or land settlement scheme, but . has concentrated all its efforts in obtaining the best possible assistance relative to passages which, if anticipations are realised, should be the means of bringing an increased number of immigrants to our shores, sufficient to make up the total to not less than 10,000 per annum. The report continues: " There is no doubt that if certain restrictions were removed and a more open policy adopted, the number of immigrants arriving per annum could be doubled. While fully alive to the economic advantage to the Empire as a whole of migration and settlement within- the Empire, it would bo useless to say, no matter now much they are needed* that we can take thousands and thousands of people from any country and plant them down in the Dominion without proper reception or. without being able to assure them that openings and work can be found upon arrival. Therefore it is better to proceed as at present and consolidate our position rather than cause disruption and dissatisfaction." Tables attached show that in 32 steamers the following immigrants arrived(A) Nominated: 956 men, 1466 women, 83 children; total, 3255. (B) Oversea settlement: 1266 men, 881 women, 1335 children; total, 3182. Grand total, 6737. Distribution was as follows: Auckland 2407. Canterbury 889, Hawko's Ba 247, Marlborough 63, Nelson 328, Otago 541, Southland 169, Taranaki 209, Wellington 1653,' Westland 231. The grand total included 912 domestics, 124 engineers, 514 farmers, 127 labourers, 377 miners, 91 clerks, 12i7 wives. '

DESTRUCTION BY DEER.

THINNING THE HERDS.

[by telegraph.—special reporter.] . " WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

The damage done by.deer on the Blue Mountains was referred to in the House of • Representatives by Mr. J. Edie (Clutha), who asked if the Government would arrange for a general thinning out of tho herd; The Hon. R. F. Bollard replied to-day that at a conference recently held in Wellington it was decided that protection should be removed from deer in areas to be determined by the interested departments, in consultation with the acclimatisation societies. One of such areas was in the vicinity of the Blue Mountains, and the necessary steps in the matter were now* being taken. Acclimatisation societies had already been authorised to thin out deer in their respective districts.