IMMIGRATION RETURNS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1931, Page 3

IMMIGRATION RETURNS

TEN YEARS’ TOTAL 86,000. PRESENT RESTRICTED POLICY. One of the major questions awaiting decision by the Government upon the return of the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, is that of the future policy to be adopted regarding immigration into the Dominion. The restrictions upon the entry of immigrants enforced in May, 1927, have remained in force until the present,, having been carried over from December, when they would ordinarily have lapsed. Complete returns relative to immigration from tha United Kingdom since the progressive policy was undertaken in 1921 were made available for publication the other day for the first time. They reveal that no fewer than 86,12 S assisted and full, fare immigrants were absorbed in the Dominion between the years, 192122, and 1929-30. The New Zealand Government has received no less than £462,000 by way of grant from the British Government up to March 31 last, in order to assist immigrants with their passage money. The peak was reached in 192627, when a total of 14,943 immigrants, arrived in the Dominion, but the present annual quota under the restriction is limited to about 1700 assisted immigrants. Under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, it was made possible for the British Government to co-operate with the Dominion Governments in carrying out schemes for development or settlement, or for facilitating migration by assisting passages, granting initial allowances, or the provision of special training. The new policy of Empire settlement followed the passing of the Act-under which a large sum was set aside for 15 years by the British Government for financial assistance for any agreed schemfe.

The New Zealand Government decided that it was impossible to have any ' land settlement scheme for immigrants, but on the other hand, it undertook the assistance of passages, for which it has received £462,000. This has been the means of enabling the cheapest fares that have ever existed in the history of the Dominion to be offered to selected, immigrants. Not more than 35 per cent.. ■ of the immigrants stay in the cities, and. it is understood that the Government’s policy at present prescribes a steady, well-directed, but not excessive, flow of men, women and children into the Dominion. ‘ •

It is of interest to learn that the Gov--ernment has also lent £17,500 to. immigrants for assistance. These loans have to be repaid, and the amount already returned or being repaid is 92| per cent, of the total, so that the Government expects to have to write off only 7J per cent, of the amount advanced.

The Dominion’s policy for the five years from 1921 was to absorb 10,000 immigrants a year, this being the' number it was considered could be taken economically without disturbing industrial conditions. At the ' beginning of 1926 the Reform Government decided to adopt a more progressive policy, by increasing the annual quota by one-third, making it 13,500. Owing to the occurrence of the depression it was decided in Ma* 1927, to restrict immigrants to the f® lowing classes: (1) Domestic' servant? and single women over the age of 40; (R juveniles, including parties of boys un®. / the Church of England and Flock Ho<ischemes; (3) separated families; j special hardship cases. • The English public and seconda<| schoolboys’ scheme was stopped in 191 under the restrictions, but up- to lafe } \ ~ March the numbers brought out to Net; | Zealand under the schemes for boysani,! j girls were 2313 boys and 11’2 girls, the - girls all going to Flock House. The num-: bers of boys brought out under the. various projects are as follows: Public and secondary school, 657; Flock House, 516;.' Salvation Army, 730; Church of England, 398;. Empire Exhibition Scholarship, 12. , The following table shows the. number of migrants from the United Kingdom satisfactorily absorbed into New Zea< land since 1920:— . / : ' Year. Assisted. Full Fars

1921-22 . 7005. . 4555 1922-23 . 6J37 < 4604 1923-24 . 6752 4736 1924-25 . ..... 8924 3527 1925-26 . • 7685 , 3280 1926-27 11,239 ' 3704 ,1927-38 . 3822 2375 1928-29 . 1968 . 1846 1929-30 . ..... 1790 157?