SUCCESSFUL POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18783, 17 May 1923, Page 5

SUCCESSFUL POLICY

IMMIGRATION AND LAND SETTLEMENT RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT A statement showing the soundness and wisdom of the Government’s immigration and land settlement policy, and the beneficial results thereof to the Dominion, was issued yesterday by the Hon. VV. Nosworthy. The statement clearly indicates the Government’s determination to people the empty spaces with citizens of a worthy and useful type.

(Per Press Association.] . WELLINGTON, May 16. The Minister of Immigration, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, has issued the following statement regarding the Government’s immigration policy:— The importance of a sound immigration and land settlement policy was apparent to the Government when it took office in 1912, with the result that a separate Immigration Department was created in 1913 and from that time enward (with the exception, of the war period) there has been a steady flow of immigrants of the right class from the United Kingdom to the Dominion, practically all of whom have been satisfactorily absorbed without disturbing the indusn trial condition of the Dominion. Early in 1914 a juvenile immigration policy (ages 16 to 20) and a land settle-, meut scheme were on the point of being brought into operation—in fact under the former two parties of fifty, each of farm boys were brought to. the Dominion—when the war broke out, and immigration for the time being was suspended until after the repatriation of the members of the, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, with the exception of the facilities granted to enable wives, families, and fiancees of members of the abovementioned force to proceed to their, new homes. At this period the Government had already commenced its scheme of settling returned soldiers on the land, and therefore it was not possible to offer any special concessions to immigrants for land settlement. However, in 1920, the Government decided to again commence a vigorous immigration policy, and with that end in view accepted immigrants under the Imperial Government’s oversea settlement scheme, which provides for free passages for ex-members of the Imperial forces, both Army and Navy, together with their dependants. The Government also opened up its own nominated policy by allowing any resident of the Dominion the privilege of nominating any person residing in the United Kingdom, irrespective of relationship or occupation. This resulted in 10,107 immigrants arriving in the Dominion during the period Ist April, 1920, to 31st March, 1921. which constituted a record number since .1879. The majority of these people were absorbed in the country districts and have become a real live asset to the Dominion. Unfortunately at the beginning of 1921 a grave financial and commercial outlook, which was universal and really the aftermath of the war, made its presence felt in New Zealand. Therefore the Government reluctantly decided that certain restrictions were necessary regarding the acceptance of immigrants under the oversea settlement scheme. This was the means of curtailing the number of arrivals which otherwise could have been readily and satisfactorily absorbed. In 1922 the Imperial Government placed on its statutes an Act entitled “The Empire Settlement Ac,, 1922,” which authorised the Imperial Government to co-operate with the Government of any part of His Majesty’s Dominions with a view to affording joint assistance to suitable persons in the United Kingdom who intend to settle in any part of His Majesty’s Dominions. An agreed scheme under this Act may ba either (a) a development or land settlement scheme or (b) a scheme for facilitating settlement in or migration to any part of His Majesty's overseas Dominions by assistance with pasages, initial alowance, spewith passages, or otherwise. For the reasons already stated there has been no opportunity for the Government to develop its special land settlement scheme for new arrivals. However, they are eligible to take advantage of the privileges under the Government Advances to Settlers’ Act. In view of these circumstances It has been decided to hold in, abeyance for a further period of twelve months the question of entering into the scheme under (a), but with regard to (b) an agreement has been entered into between the two Governments which completely overshadows similar agreements made, with other parts of the Empire, as the following comparison will show: The cost of passages for a man, his wife and four children of ages between three and twelve years to Canada is £72, to Australia £96, and to New Zealand £36. The Government is fully alive to the importance of the question of immigration, and its present policy, under which an average of 8000 souls per annum have been absorbed during the last three years, has proved to be most beneficial ‘to the Dominion. Under this policy provision is-made whereby the best class of settlors can be procured, the primary and secondary industries catered for and an individual resident of the Dominion can secure his friends from the United Kingdom at the lowest fares and under the most, advantageous conditions ever offered, to the people of New Zealand...