N.Z. IMMIGRANTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16895, 27 November 1925, Page 8

N.Z. IMMIGRANTS.

ALLEGATIONS OF UNFITNESS

DECLARED TO BE UNFOUNDED. (Per Piess Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. At the annual conference of the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce to-dav, .Mr M. I). Thomson. Under-Secretary of Immigration Department, spoke on a remit dealing with immigration. lie gave a comprehensive report of the operations of his department, and said that allegations regarding unfit immigrants landing in New Zealand and becoming a burden on the State were absolutely unfounded. He said (hat with the many thousands of immigrants who had landed in New Zealand in flu: 'past few years they could not hope to get 100 per cent. efficiency, but, the proportion of unfit was small compared with the numbers coming to the country. Ife had gone to Auckland and interviewed the represent a I ivc of the British Empire scheme, and had endeavored to obtain permission to use part of the British Government's allotment for assisting immigrants to come here to be devoted to house building for these immigrants, hut without- success. He explained the reason why immigrants were not- nominated to go to Invercargill and some of the towns in the North Island direct was because the shipping companies contracted to carry .immigrants to centres only. His department, however, pays the cost- of transport of immigrants from central ports to the towns they wish to go to. He said that the High Commissioner in London was exercising excellent discretion in selecting suitable immigrants, and that his department was not. lacking in endeavoring to bring about the full success of the scheme.