BRITISH IMMIGRANTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26472, 28 May 1947, Page 6

BRITISH IMMIGRANTS

INCEPTION OF SCHEME PRIORITY FOR KEY WORKERS DOMINION TO PAY PASSAGES P.A. WELLINGTON, May 27. Free passages for ex-servicemen and women of the United Kingdom forces and assisted passages for civilians are provided for in the scheme of assisted immigration which has been decided upon as the result of discussions between the United Kingdom and' New Zealand Governments. This announcement was made by the Minister of Immigration, Mr McLagan, today. ■Mr McLagan said that civilians would be required to contribute only £lO towards the cost of their steamer passages. The full cost of the scheme, apart from the civilian contribution, would be met by the Now Zealand Government. It had been first proposed that the United Kingdom should meet the full cost of the passages for exservicemen, but the New Zealand Government considered that it would be unreasonable to expect the United Kingdom to meet an expenditure on the scale suggested and consequently made an offer to meet the full cost of the scheme. The Dominions’ Secretary had now advised that his Government was pleased to accept what he termed New Zealand’s “generous offer.” Mr McLagan said that it was expected that transport would be provided for nearly 10,000 immigrants by 1949. As had already been announced, the free and assisted passages scheme would apply at present only to single men and women up to 35 years of age. Prospective migrants would require to undertake to accept employment in certain specified" occupations, and to remain in such employment for two years after their arrival in New Zealand. It would not be possible to extend the scheme to married people until the difficult housing position was very much improved. Female Staffs for Hospitals

The Minister said the scheme would come into operation immediately, and a commencement would be made with the recruiting of female staff for our public hospitals. ffhe inclusion in other categories of workers for essential industries was under discussion with the United Kingdom authorities. The New Zealand Government had agreed that before a final decision was reached as to the numbers to be selected for any one group, the United Kingdom authorities would be consulted, but they had indicated that they would not be unduly restrictive in this respect so long as New Zealand did not require any large number of skilled workers in any group in which there was already a serious shortage of skilled labour.

Preference in selection would at all times be giveii to ex-service-men and women, Mr McLagan said. As finality had only just been reached, it would take some few weeks to complete the necessary details, and as soon as these were completed the High Commissioner jn London would call for applications by advertisement through the press.. In regard to the number of persons it would be possible to bring to New Zealand under the free and assisted passage scheme, this was governed entirely by the availability of shipping. The Mataroa and Tamaroa would be released in August and September, but would require reconversion before they could be made fully available for the New Zealand run. When converted, they will each carry 400 passengers. Passages Available In addition, arrangements had been made with the shipping companies in regard to the reservation of berths for immigration purposes, and, together with the two ships already mentioned, it was expected that it will be possible to secure accommodation for up to 1500 migrants for the remainder of the year; 3500 for 1948; and 4800 for 1949. These estimates were based on the shipping in sight at present, but the efforts to secure additional accommodation would be continued.

Mr McLagan said the whole of the discussions with the United Kingdom had been carried out on a most satisfactory basis, and the New Zealand Government deeply appreciated the / helpful and co-operative attitude of the United Kingdom Government. In regard to the occupational categories to be included under the scheme in its early stages, it would be appreciated that in view of-the limited number of immigrants that could be brought out in the near future as the result of shipping difficulties, these must necessarily be restricted to those occupations which ranked highest in importance at the present time, and in which we were urgently in need of additional labour. Certain proposals in this connection would be placed before the Immigration Advisory Council which was now being set up. and which it was proposed to call together at an early date. In addition to girls for hospital employment the maximum possible consideration would be given to certain key industries engaged in the production ojL materials or other items urgently required for housebuilding. Mr McLagan said that the Government must ensure beforehand that suitable accommodation would be immediately available for any immigrants brought out under the assisted schemes. , Provision of Accommodation Where accommodation was not provided as part of the job the New Zealand Government proposed to set up hostels or similar suitable accommodation in the four main centres for this purpose. It was possible that some ex-service establishments would be taken over for this purpose, and these would be used as transit accommodation for migrants until such time as permanent accommodation was secured. The Minister said that the plans now announced represented only the initial step towards the introduction of a comprehensive long-term immigration policy. The Government fully appreciated the need for a greater population policy in future to the extent that shipping, housing, and other considerations would permit.