FEWER MIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 5

FEWER MIGRANTS

CONTRACTION OF TOURIST TRAFFIC A severe curtailment of overseas passenger traffic to and from New Zealand is recorded in the official migration, statistics for 1931. During the 11 month* ended November 30, a total of 17,857 persona arrived at New Zealand ports, as against over 28,000 in the corresponding, period of 1930, and nearly 29,000 in 1929. Departures also declined from 29,000 two years ago to just over 20,000. This year, departures exceeded arrivals by,2153 iri the 11 months,-and owing to the contraction of tourist traffic, the returns for the full year will probably show a loss by migration. Comparable returns for periods of 11 months are 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 Nfew ; Zealand returning from abroad; and .visitors on pleasure or business. Under the heading of departures are grouped,’as emigrants persons previously resident who-left with the intention of residirig elsewhere; residents leaving the Dominion temporarily;' and visitors:—

The record number of arrivals in on* year, in the post-war period, was 45,685 in 1926, and of departures 36,248 in 1927. Permanent, immigrants reached the peak figure of 17,86,8 in 1926, while the largest number of emigrants was 4145 in 1927. Following is a summary of the annual gains 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:—

Visitors to New Zealand who described themselves on arrival as - tourists - increased from 7898 in 1925 to 9508 in 1926; in 1928, they numbered 9597, and in, 1929, 9593. Even in 1930 there-were 8484 tourists, but this year the-total for 11 months is only 4309. // New Zealand residents going .abroad numbered' 16,659 in 1927, but \only 12,532 in 1930, while the total for this year is under 8000. . /v ;

Arrivals 1929 1930 1931 Immigrants 5,449 6,126 3.050 Residents .. 12,919 12,720 8.335 Visitors 10,506 9,697 6,560 Totals 28,874' 28,543 17,957 Departures Emigrants .. 2,850 2,304 2,490 Residents .. 13,439 11,748 7,807 Visitors 12,872 12,344 9,804 Totals , .. 29,161 26,396 20,110

Excess of arrivals. Total. Permanent 1925 .. i : . 12,674 13,758 192(5 .... 11,860 15,287 1927 .... 2,428 7,182 1928 .... 443 2,485 1929 ,. .. 2,796 3,250 1930 .... 4,252 4,468',