DOMINION’S IMMIGRANTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16797, 28 July 1922, Page 5

DOMINION’S IMMIGRANTS.

REPLY TO AN ALLEGATION. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON. July 27. tl The Dominion has absorbed ovv 19.500 immigrants during the last two t ears and four month and under one per cent have left Nev Zealand” Tiu* was the dominant feature of a statement m ile by the Minister of Agriculture to-day in rep'.v to Mr A. Spencer’s allegations at the Farmers’ Union Conference. Only t small proportion of this number have remained in the cities, the balance have been absorbed ill country districts, he added. I’be Government policy had been to assist in placing returned soldiers on the land, snd for this reason it had not been pinsable to offer any assistance for the purpose of placing immigrants a-, settlers >n the land oil their arrival in New ZenUuid. The Government bad made special provision whereby skilled labour for primavv industries has been secured for the Dominion, and in time these same immigrants would become farmers on their own account. It was the intention of the Government tc take advantage of the State-aided Empire settlement scheme in such manner as would produce the best results for the benefit of New Zealand. Figures for immi R rafi«M from April. 1920. April 1. 1920. to March 31, 1921 . . . 10,107 April 1. 1921, to March 31, 1922 . - . 7,00-3 Aoril 1, 1922. to Julv 20. 1922 .... 2.0 03 Total . . 19,615