RESTRICTED IMMIGRANTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 29

RESTRICTED IMMIGRANTS

NEW AND STRINGENT REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, January 23. Regulations governing the admission of foreigners have been made much more stringent. In the application which have to be sent to the Minister of Customs, they have to supply full information as to the character and object of their visit, their occupation, and health, and also that they are not disaffected or dangerous persons, or persons who advocate, the overthrow by force or violence of constitutional government, and that they will fully observe the laws of New Zealand. Under the Immigration Restriction Act it is provided that lor tiie purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the two Acts an officer of Customs shall board every vessel arriving from places beyond New Zealand at any port or harbour. The master of the vessel is to facilitate in every way the work of the Customs officer, and is to certify in writing whether there is any passenger or member of the crew on board the ship who is subject to restriction. Power is given the Customs officer to ask the necessary questions, and failure to answer a question or to answer in a misleading- way is to be an offence. No vessel arriving from beyond New Zealand is to come alongside any wharf or landing-place without permission of an officer of Customs. Any prohibited immigrant arriving at a New Zealand port enroute to some place beyond New Zealand may be permitted to land for a period not exceeding 2i days, provided there be deposited with the Collector of Customs security by cash or bond or other satisfactory security that the person shall report himself to the Collector upon departure from New Zealand within the time specified. Every person resident in New Zealand who desires to leave New Zealand with the intention of returning, and who is a person who would require a permit to enter New Zealand, is to apply for a certificate of registration to the Collector of Customs at the port nearest to the place where he is best known or at the final port of departure. The Collector shall issue a certificate and deliver it to the person applying when the latter is on board the ship by which he is to leave New Zealand. On the return to New Zealand of the person holding a certificate of registration the collector at the first port of arrival, if satisfied of the identity of the holder with the person named in the certificate, and that he has returned within four years after the date of registration, is to permit such person to land in New Zealand. Every person who commits a breach of these regulations is liable to a fine of £SO.