FOREIGN SETTLERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6652, 28 October 1908, Page 11

FOREIGN SETTLERS

NATURALISATION BETTERS. ' HUNDREDS OF APPLICANTS. Some complaints have been made late* ly regarding delay iu the issue of letters of naturalisation by memorialists who desire to he made British subjects in view of the elections. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Dr Findlay, was questioned on the subject lay a "Times” representative yesterday. “Apparently,” said the Minister, "the memorialists had no idea of the stejis which had to he taken before letters of naturalisation can be finally issued. Hundreds of applications have boon coming forward from people who havo been years in this country, and who may have apx<liod months ago, but havo delayed their applications until a lew weeks before, the general elections, ilu officers of tho Department are using the utmost expedition, and no delay whatever has arisen in the Department’s offices.. The' delay iiecossarily arose in connection with some steps which had to be taken independently of tho offices.” The step.’ required to bo followed to obtain grams of letters of naturalisation. Dr Findlay pointed out, are: — Memorials require' to be in Inc terms prescribed by the. Aliens Act, 1908, duly' verified by statutory declaration, and having a certificate of character annexed thereto. ' On receipt of a memorial in proper form it is forwarded to tho Stipendiary Magistrate of the district in which the memorialist resides for inquiry and report. ; ... Tho Magistrate institutes such inquiry as may be n’eoeesary, usually through tho police. , , , ~ When tha memorial is returned by the. Magistrate with a favourable report,it is scheduled and submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs for approval. If approved tho memorialist is instructed to take tho Oath of Allegiance before a Justice of the Feaco and to return it to the Department of Internal Affairs. This the memorialist frequently delays to -do. On receipt of this Oath of Allegiance letters of naturalisation are prepared, and when signed by tho Minister are forwarded to the Governor for his r>ignature. - _ ~ When received from tho Governor tho letters of naturalisation , aro forthwith, despatched to tho memorialist. • They aro duly enrolled in registers aa required hy the Act, and a notice of tho issue of tho letters published in tb» “Gazette.”