NOMINATED IMMIGRANTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 25

NOMINATED IMMIGRANTS

NEW ARRANGEMENT WITH THE BRITISH GO VKI! NM ENT. IMPROVEMENT ON PAST AGREEMENT. (FbO* IrVK OWV CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON. February 3. Highly satisfactory arrangements have reeenrly V>een made between the New Zealand and the British Government for mutual assistance to nominated immigrants. Interviewed on the subject to-day Minister of Immigration (the Hon. W. Nosworthv) stated that the new agreement is far more favourable to the dominion than the old one. Furthermore, it limits assisted immigration strictly to persons who are nominated by friends or relatives in New Zealand, except in the case of domestics, farm labourers, and miners. Comparative figures show that the terms of migrants to New Zealand are mb re favourable than those to other dominions. DETAILS OF RATES. The following details show the position Tlie adult immigrant to New Zealand now receives a grant towards the fa i’*‘ from the Imperial Government of £5. and jrom the Now Zealand Government of £lO. leaving the amount to be found £lB. lor children under 12 years the Imperial Government pays £8 ss, New Zealand £9, and the immigrant nil. For boys l- to 10 years, and girls 12 to 18 years, the Imperial Government £7 10s, the New' Zealand Government £7 10s, ihe immigrant £lB. _ . , Canada—Fare £lB. no Imperial or Canadian assistance grants. Australia. —Steamer fares, the same as to New Zealand. The Imperial Government pays £6. Australia £6. and the immigrant £24. Children under 12. Imperial Government £3, Australia £3. immigrant £l2. Boys, 12 to 16, and girls 12 to 18 years. Imperial Government £6. Australia £6, mmigrant £24. ... The immigrant to Canada is faced with expensive railway fares across the Continent. In the case of Australia the immigrant also pays railway fares. The New Zealand arrangements is that either the shipping company or the Government provides railway transportation free to the immigrant to his destination. SOME COMPARISONS. Under the old nominated scheme a man with a wife and four children (under 12 years of age) would have to pay *194 to come to New Zealand, travelling third class in a four-berth cabin. Under the new arrangement, at existing passage rates, he pays only £44, and the cost to the New Zealand Government is less also than for merly. To go to Australia that same family would pay £96. , , _ The details of the New Zealand figures are as follows (for a man, wife, and four children): — Old Arrangement.—lmmigrant s share, four fares at £26, £104; New Zealand s share, four, £l6, less discounts £B, £56. New Agreement.—lmmigrant pays two at £2O, £4O ; four at £l. £4. Total, £44. New Zealand pays two at £lO, £2O ; four at £8 ss, £33. ‘Total, £52. Imperial Government pays two at £5, £10; four at £8 bs, £33. Total. £43. , , To Australia, the cost of the immigrant for himself and his family would be £96; to the Imperial Government £24, and to the Australian Government £24. “The new scheme must therefore offer a great attraction to immigrants to come to New Zealand, but to come here at so small cost they must be nominated by friends in New Zeatand. who require to satisfy the immigration officer that work and accommodation are absolutely guaranteed on their arrival, while the High Commissioner must reasonably assure himself that the immigrants will make good and reputable citizens. Under no other system are migrants assisted to the dominion, the overseas settlement scheme for ex-service men having terminated last year. The dominion is therefore able to offer to desirable prospective citizens from the Motherland the best rates of travel of any British dominion. a;ul on her part, her nominated system ensures for her only the most desirable. In this way also she is taking only such people as she can conveniently absorb economically. ‘ln placing the.se details before the public.’ 7 said the Minister, "I desire to emphasise what, no doubt, has occurred to those who have followed them, that the scheme can onlv be a success if nominations are made. Citizens who have friends at Home, desiring to come to New Zealand, and employers of labour, should, without delay, take the necessary steps to enable them to take advantage of the very liberal concessions now offered. Ample accommodation has been secured by the Immigration Department, on various direct liners -sailing during the next few months, so the time is favourable for immediate application for passages.”