SOBER PICTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26545, 21 August 1947, Page 10

SOBER PICTURE

DOMINION CONDITIONS ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS a Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Aug. 20. Immigration booklets gave a sober and realistic description of of employment and housing in this country, and were not in any way misleading, stated the Minister of Immigration, Mr McLagan, in a written reply in the House of Representatives to-day to a question by Mr W. Sullivan (Oppn., Bay of Plenty), who had asked the Minister if .he would investigate a report that 30 immigrants were so disappointed that they lmnjediately booked their return passages to Britain. The Minister said the only information available as to the number of persons who were alleged to have returned to the United Kingdom and their reasons for leaving New Zealand was contained in the press report. As these people had left the country, it was not possible to make any detailed investigation into the matter. Mr McLagan said that inquiries had failed to reveal the number of persons involved, but it was definite that none of those concerned were brought to New Zealand under the Government’s immigration scheme. It would appear from the press report that the people concerned were family groups who had come to New Zeaalnd entirely on their own initiative and without first having taken the precaution of making inquiries from a reliable source such as the High Commissioner’s office. All overseas inquirers were definitely advised of jthe acute housing shortage, and were’ informed that it was practically impossible for new arrivals to rent houses or flats. Married people were also advised against coming to New Zealand at present unless they had made prior arrangements for accommodation on arrival.