IMMIGRATION.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13756, 23 June 1913, Page 6

IMMIGRATION.

* f: REFORM GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

!A; MINISTERIAL, ANNOUNCEMENT.

farm* liAßd tiS§: firo domestic ■ SERVANTS.

Pkess Association.]

Wellington, Juno 22. Tho Hon. H. D. Bell made tho following statement regarding tho ! Govorn'mont'a ■ policy with respect to imjaigration: — 'liX- •.Mi-.--eminent, immediately after 09 took office, determined to make pro.vision for an increased flow of immigrants into New Zealand, tho classes ,to be domestic servants and farhi laibourors. The High Commissioner had loonforcnces on tihe subject .with the Ministers bt-foro his departure for England, and ho undertook to make inquiries, and report upon the result of them. ?£ho first report, with detailed -suggestions, was 'received by tho Government at the end of March, 1913. In the interval, Mr. Allen (during his visit to '(Kngla-ud) communicated to Mr. Mackenzie proposals and suggestions from .Government officials.

I think it will bo necessary to supplement tho Englißh staff of the. High Commissioner's office by tho addition of mie'or more- persons from New Zealand, rwho know tho necessities of the country, tho class of people required, and the parts of the United Kingdom where buch classes can host be .found; and ialso who can speak from experience as •to tho rate? of wages, and the nature of tho employment prevailing in tho various parts of tho Dominion. To lavoid possible correspondence on this point, I desire to make it clear that any such appointment will have to bo made iby tho Public Service Commissioner, and not by mo. Tho detailed changes havo already been initiated at the New Zealand «nd iby tho present Government, including itbo establishment of ■» separate Department, and the appointment of a matron ,to meet tho female immigrants and ne{Sotiato with tho Girla' Friendly Society, arid tho Young "Women's Christian Association, regarding homes, and information for any girls who do not immediately depart for places already found for them.. The Minister turned then to tho immediate results anticipated from tho improved methods, and tho provisions made therefor. He said: There pretviously was a serious shortage of Btoamer accommodation at certain periods of the year. Tho High Commissioner has reported in this respect that lio had been able to make entirely satisfactory arrangements with tho shipping companies for tho space which he anticipates will be required during this and next year ; further, it .has been asr eertaitied that, though the payment for assisted passages required from domestic servants is for a four berth cabin only £4 1&> 6d, and for ah eight-berth cabin only £2 16s, tho requirement of oven, that contribution, coupled with a further requirement that the domestic should have a certain sum of money of foe* own in her possession on landing, lias deterred a very desirable class, who found a better means offered by Canada. The Government has now directed that in such cases the whole of the pasBag© money may be paid for domestic l*earantß, and tho money required for landing advanced to them on tho undertaking that it will bo refunded by instalments.

Similar, but not idontical, concessions have been authorised in the caw of farm labourers' who are without sufficient means to pay their own share of the passage money, but are otherwise of a suitable class.

One previous requirement in respect v>f .domestic servants was tho produc"fcion of certificates of at least on© •year's domestic service in England. It 18 belkved that the requirement haa «xcludod a number of women who have 'been educated for years in practical domestic duties in their own homes. The Government has authorised itß iioudon agency to dispense with tho requirement in cases where, it can be otherwise satisfied that the women havo complete domestic experience. The Government found that the nomination of immigrants by residents in New Zealand was, except in the case of ib© wife or the husband of a resident, limited to persons who were either in domestic-service,- or were farm labourers. The restriction led to a. good deal o£ misrepresentation as to the occupations of the relatives of the New Zealand residents. In the case of all relatives, by blood or marriage, of residonts.in bievi Zealand, the Government ixas directed that nominations shall bo .accepted without regard to occupation, but with, a limit as to age; and subject to the nominee satisfying tho eA amining department of the high Oomf miasHmt-r as to his or her health, physical fitness, and as to there being nothing known against the nominee's character.

Efforts have been made to obtain from farmers, by circular, particulars of tho number or labourers-each farmer dosing to employ. Correspondence has taken place between the High Commisaiorior and the Government with referenc© to the importation of ,boys who have had experience in .rural district,: for employment on'farms. The Government lias endeavoured by an omeial inquiry to obtain accurate and practical information as to the (shortage of labour in factories of certain descriptions throughout the Dominion. While it is not proposed to grant assisted passages to factory hands, it is proposed to offer factory proprietors, who find their work hampored by the impossibility of procuring skilled employees, assistance- from the Government to the following extent: If the factory satisfies the Government that it cannot obtain in the Dominion Bkiiied employees which it, requires, .and is willing to pay a fair living wage to immigrants of that..description, the Government will instruct the High Commissioner to cause tho demand for that particular class, and the rate of wages, to bo mad© known by advertisement, or otherwise, in England. .., In no caso will tho wage bo less than that fixed by an Arbitration Court award. The High Commissioner will receive applications, and his officers will satisfy themselves of the qualifications, phvsioul fitness, and character :6f tJie -applicants. Ho will also ■ arrange, tor •passaged in steamers carrying mum-' grants to Neiv Zealand at tho lowest, possible rates, and, in tho ease of girls, will provide matrons, and take precautions for their protection and comfort during the voyage. - With regard* to this class of immigrant, factory proprietors must pay ■•the. whole of the •passage money, and, though they may make arrangements for refunds by tho immigrants', they must ilinmselves take the -risk of possible refusal by the employees on tfooir arrival to enter into their employment, or io make refunds. The Government does not propose, and will not bo concerned, in tho introduction of labour of this class to compete with labour of tho same kind where rcuch labour is available in r»ew Zealand. ■