MIGRATION DECLINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 12

MIGRATION DECLINE

NEW. ZEALAND FIGURES

EXCESS OF DEPARTURES MARKED DROP IN TOTALS A continued decline in the overseas passenger traffic to and from New Zealand, with a marked excess of departures over arrivals, is revealed in the official migration statistics for 1932. During the year 2940 permanent residents of the Dominion left with the intention of living permanently abroad, whereas the gain by immigration from overseas was only 1572. Departures exceeded arrivals by 3339. A total of 17,879 persons arrived at New Zealand ports in 1932, against 20,225 in 1931 and 32,559 in 1930. Departures showed a less pronounced decline from 28,307 in 1930 and 21,636 in 1931 to 21,218 in 1932.

Comparable returns arc shown in the following summary. The arrivals are grouped as immigrants, representing persons who announced their intention of residing permanently in New Zealand; residents, persons domiciled in New Zealand returning from abroad; and visitors, on pleasure or business. Under tho heading of departures are grouped as emigrants persons*previously resident who left with the intention of living elsewhere; residents leaving the Dominion temporarily, and visitors:— Arrivals— 1030 1931 1932 Immigrants (5,917 3,236 1,572 Residents . . 14,362 9,366 8,981 Visitors 11,280 7,623 7,323 Totals ~ 32,559 20,225 17,879 Departures— Emigrants . . 2,449 2,093 2,940 Residents .. 12,532 8,436 9,'401 Visitors „ . . 13,326 10,507 8,877 Totals . . 28,307 21,636 21,218 Of last year's emigrants, 932 left for Australia, 1788 for the British Isles, 98 for other British possessions, 27 for the United States of America and 95 for other foreign countries. Since the war, the record number of arrivals in one year was 45,685 in 1926, and of departures, 36,248, in 1927. Permanent immigrants reached the peak figure of 17,868 in 1926, while the largest number of emigrants was 4145 in 1927. Following is a summary of the annual gains in population by migration, the totals representing the excess of all immigration, permanent and temporary, and the figures in the third column the excess of permanent immigrants:—

Excess of Arrivals Total Permaneilt 1925 .j .. 12.074 33,758 .. .. 11,860 15,287 1927 .. .. 2.42S 7,182 1928 .. .. 443 2,485 -1929 . . . . 2,79(5 3.250 1930 . . . . 4,252 4,408 1931 .. .. '1,411 543 1932 . . . . *3,339 *1,308 'Excess of departures.

The visitors who described themselves as tourists on arrival last year numbered 5268, an increase of 131, over the figure for 1931. However, the figures for both years are considerably below normal. The figures for 1928 and 1929 were 9597 and 9593 respectively, although there was a drop to 8484 in 1930.