IMMIGRATION. (REPORTS FROM OFFICERS.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, D-04

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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

IMMIGRATION. (REPORTS FROM OFFICERS.)

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Hall with the leave of the House.

No. 1. The Immigration Officer, Nelson, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Memorandum. — Reply to Memorandum No. 648. In the absence of particulars as to the class and description of the immigrants on board the " Opawa," lam unable to state how many may be likely to find employment here. It is possible that many of them may be nominated immigrants who would be received and provided for by their friends. I can, however, state that I have no doubt all the single women will be able to obtain situations at good wages, and a few farm labourers would probably find employment; but beyond those there is no demand for labour. Nominated Immigration. With regard to the now regulation requiring the payment of £o cash per male adult on nomination, I am of opinion that it will to some extent stop the introduction to this district of bond fide settlers. It has already stopped several nominations. If the Government do not see their way to allow free nominated immigration, I am of opinion that it would be better to allow the £o per adult to be paid either by the nominator in the colony at the time of nomination, or by the nominee on acceptance of nomination in England. I have also to call attention to Eegulation No. 3 on the back of tho nomination papers, which provides that free passages will not be granted to more than three children in one family under twelve years of age. I think this regulation works very badly, and presses hardly on those who are least able to bear it, as, the larger a man's family the less he can alford to pay, and much more is required for their outfit. Report for the Quarter ended 30th June, 1879. No immigrants have been introduced during this quarter into the Nelson District. One hundred ;tnd forty four (144) nominations have been received during the quarter. There is still a demand for female domestic servants. Alfred Greenfield, Nelson, 18th September, 1879. Immigration Offier.

No. 2. The Immigration Offices, Napier, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Immigration Office, Napier, 18th September, 1879. In reply to your memorandum, No. 347, of 15th instant, I have the honor to inform you that, owing to the general depression, there is very little demand for labour here at present, and consequently there ia some difficulty in finding employment for the immigrants recently arrived per " Rakaia." In about six weeks or two months hence there will be a demand for station hands and farm labourers. Some persons anticipate the supply will not equal the demand, and therefore take the opportunity of engaging men for six months, so as to secure them when required. This remark only applies to those persons in a position to pay extra hands, although not requiring them immediately; consequently such eases are rare. Considering, therefore, that some of the requirements during the busy season are being provided for, and that many men who are now lost sight of will appear when there is a demand for their services, 1 think it very probable there will be some difficulty in finding employment for those immigrants who are now on their way here. AVith reference to the payment of £5 for adult males on nomination, I think this regulation will be found very beneficial, and will tend to prevent the introduction of man}' useless men who would prove an incumbrance to the colony.

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However careful an Immigration Officer may be in receiving nominations, it is impossible to prevent imposition in many cases; and lam convinced that in several instances persons still indebted for their own passages, aud who are probably unsuited for colonists, get friends who hold a better position than themselves to nominate for them, thereby inducing the Immigration Officer to recommend a nomination that should not be accepted. This would to a great extent be prevented by making the payment of £5 compulsory. Only those nominees who would be likely to prove good colonists would then be sent for, and there would be more security that the nominators would receive them on arrival. I thiuk many nominators r.ather prefer to pay such a moderate fee as £5, as they then consider their friends are more likely to be sent out quickly. Certainly all those from whom I have asked payment have been willing to pay, except in one instance, where the nominator was quite indifferent about his friends coming. I have, &c, J. T. Tylee, The Under Secretary for Immigration. Immigration Officer.

No. 3. The Immigration Officer, Blenheim, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Urn,— Blenheim, 19th September, 1879. In compliance with the instructions contained in your memorandum, No. 648, of the 15th instant, I have the honor to submit the following report for the quarter ended 30th June, 1879. During that period no immigrants arrived in Marlborough, except six who came out in the " Stad Haarlem" in the month of April. These, being all nominated, were received by their friends on arrival, who, I have no doubt, readily found employment for them. The immigrants by the " Fernglen " and " Warwick," which arrived hero in the previous quarter, have been quite lost sight of as immigrants. For the most part they were engaged by residents in various parts of the provincial district, some fewremaining in Blenheim. lam not aware that any of them were unable to find employment during the winter months. Applications for free passages were accepted at this office during the three months ending 30th June for forty-five persons, consisting of six single men, thirteen single women, six married couples, one widower (with a family, including a grown-up son and daughter) ; the remaining thirteen being children under twelve years of age. With regard to occupations and nationalities they may be classed as follows : — Occupations. —Single men : 4 farm labourers, 1 labourer, 1 upholsterer. Married men : 4 farm labourers, 1 mechanic, 1 fitter and millwright, I coppersmith. Single women : 1 dressmaker, 1 dairymaid, 1 cook, 10 domestic servants. Nationalities. —Thirteen from England, 24 from Ireland, and 8 from Scotland. I do not anticipate any difficulty as to finding employment for these persons, provided they arrive here between the latter part of November and the middle of January. This observation does not apply to the four mechanics, as they are not likely to find ready employment at their trades ; but, having been nominated, their friends may be expected to put them in the way of getting a living until work at their trades can be found for them. I have, &c, John White, The Under Secretary for Immigration. Immigration Officer.

No. 4. The Immigration Officer, Christchurch, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir,— Christchurch, 20th September, 1879. In compliance with your memorandum, No. 648, of the 15th instant, I have the honor to forward the quarterly report for the period ending 30th June last. With regard to the probability of the immigrants now afloat for this district finding employment upon their arrival, I have addressed a letter to the Chairmen of the Road Boards in which immigrants' cottages are located, requesting to be informed if any are unoccupied, intimating at the same time that I would be prepared to forward families on the arrival of the first ship, due here in about three weeks. I have not yet had time to receive replies ; but I believe very few of the cottages are vacant, and, moreover, there is at present little or no demand for labour. On Wednesday last there was a large meeting of the unemployed, and there cannot be a doubt that at the present time a very great deal of distress exists. I am quite sure that fully 600 men are now out of work. I understand, however, that directions have been given to find immediate employment for them on railway works. Still, the fact remains that the demand for labour is very limited indeed. I will do all I possibly can to obtain employment for those to arrive. It is satisfactory to knowthat up to the present the season has been all that could be desired by farmers. There is a very large area of ground under cultivatiou, with every prospect of a bountiful harvest. With respect to the latter part of your memorandum under reply, I am of opinion that the recent regulation requiring payment of £5 cash for male immigrants is a very necessary step. It will undoubtedly limit to a great extent the number of nominations; but it will also produce satisfactory results, as no one here is likely to pay £5 unless he is satisfied that the person nominated is in every respect suitable for the colony. I am further of opinion that, for the remainder of this season, immigration should be very limited. I would recommend that it be confined to the nominations sent from here, together with from forty to fifty single women (selected at Home) by each ship. I have, &c, J. E. March, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

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Enclosure in No. 4. District of Canterdurs:. —Immigration Officer's Report for the Quarter ended 30th June, 1879. During the above period only one ship arrived with immigrants—viz., the s.s. "Stad Haarlem," on 15th April, conveying 341 souls, equal to 299! statute adults, classified as follows: —Fifty families, comprising 174 souls=l32i adults ; siugle men, 123 ; single women, 44 : total, 341 souls—299i- adults. The following return sives their trades and occupations : —Males : Farm labourers, 131; general labourers, 18; gardeners, 5; plumbers, 2; masons, 2; ironmoulder, 1; blacksmith, 1; baker, 1; saddler, 1. Females : General servants, 28 ; cook, 1; housemaid, 1; nurse, 1. Considerable difficulty was experienced in placing these immigrants. They arrived at a season when there is but a very limited demand for labour; consequently many of them remained in dep6t for a much longer period than is usually the case. On the 18th December last I had the honor to call your attention to the probable state of the labour market immediately after the harvest operations were over. I then requested that only a very limited number of married men with families might be sent. This ship, however, brought no less than fifty families for this district. Neither the season of the year nor the number would have been of so much importance if the plan of settling the people in the country districts had been continued. In 1874 and 1875 the system of forming village settlements was commenced —certainly on a small scale, but it worked admirably. The plan, shortly, was this : — On the line of railway or adjacent thereto, as at Temuka, a reserve was laid off, with sections varying in size from half to two acres, allotted to each family after the cottage was built. In building these cottages or huts (as the walls are chiefly of sods) the plan adopted was this : The women and children remained on rations at the main depot; the men were taken to the locality and built the huts, under the direction and superintendence of a competent ganger, who was paid from 9s. to 10s. per day. The men had rations allowed them during the time they were building their huts, but nothing further. The average cost of the huts was £10 each, aud the terms of occupation as follows : First year, rent free ; second and third years, a rental of 2s. per week. The rents paid into the Treasury exceed £500. Although at the present time there is a great deal of distress, and a large number of unemployed, I venture to assert that there is not one who was located in the manner I have stated amongst the unemployed. I trust at no distant date a similar plan will be adopted, as I am convinced it is the only way of carrying out satisfactorily the Immigration and Public Works policy. I have, &c, J. E. March, Immigration Officer.

No. 5. The Immigration Officer, Invercargill, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Immigration Office, Invercargill, 22nd September, 1879. I have the honor to furnish my quarterly report to the 30th September, 1879. As to the probability of any immigrants now afloat finding employment in our district on arrival, I do not anticipate any difficulty, provided they are the class much needed here—agricultural labourers and good female servants. Some sixty or seventy nominated immigrants, mostly classed as farm servants, have readily found work ; and, although there is no demand this season for labour, I anticipate no difficulty in placing a few families, single men, and single women, off the ship " Invercargill " ou her arrival at Port Chalmers. As to the recent regulation requiring payment in cash of £5 on nominated male immigrants, I have only very respectfully to state that it has given very general dissatisfaction throughout this district; and 1 have been compelled to refuse some excellent nominations of large and useful families, for, although old settlers have comfortable homes and employ for relatives and friends on their arrival, they have not at times ready means to pay down a sum of —say, £20 or £30 on demand, or perhaps more, according to the number to be sent for. My many years' service in the Immigration Department I hope gives me permission to respectfully submit that this restriction be as early as possible taken off. lam persuaded that if it were put at the other end —I mean at Home—for all male immigrants, and £3 for every female, we should get a different class of people. To benefit the colony at large the nominated system is by far the finest system : nominators are responsible for their friends on arrival, and they are no burden to Government. The system has worked admirably in Southland, and I regretted very much to receive the late check on it. I have, &c, Herbert V. Ltllicrap, The Under Secretary for 1 mmigration. Immigration Officer.

No. 6. Memorandum from the Immigration Officer, Dunedin, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. In reply to your memorandum of the 15th instant, in which you ask me to furnish some information as to the probability of the immigrants now afloat for this port finding employment on their arrival, I have to state that, as the season for absorbing labour in the country districts is now approaching, I entertain the hope that those of the immigrants who have a knowledge of farm work will easily obtain employment, although at reduced wages. Others who are mere labourers will be employed on the

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railways. Married men with families of children of tender age will be difficult to place at the present time,' in consequence of the general depression of trade and the low price of grain. I would point out in this connection that the ship " Invercargill," due here this week from Glasgow, has thirty-nine families on board, of which only four are nominated, and sixty-three children under twelve years of age. 1 would suggest that, until times are more prosperous, fewer married people be sent in each ship. By making use of the railways in dispersing the immigrants to the various centres of population —say Invercargill and Oamaru—l hope to be able to place the whole of those now on the way to this port without much hardship to themselves or expense to the department. With reference to the second subject referred to in your memorandum, I am glad to say that the recent change in the regulations, requiring a payment of £5, has had a very salutary effect, and will be the means of introducing a much better class of immigrants without materially affecting the number to be introduced. My opinion as to the necessity for such a change had been formed some time ago, and from the short experience I have had of the working of it, I am more convinced that it was necessary. Colin Allan, Dunedin, 22nd September, 1879. Immigration Officer.

No. 7. The Immigration Officer, Wellington, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. Sir, — Immigration Office, Wellington, 26th September, 1879. I have the honor to reply to your memorandum of the 15th instant. My yearly report was forwarded on the 9th July. During the last quarter of the year the " Stad Haarlem " arrived, bringing 223 immigrants, of whom 180 were for Wellington. At the time of their arrival there was no demand for immigrants, except at Patea. Nearly all were sent there, and I have every reason to believe they found immediate employment. My latest advices from the country districts say there is no demand for labour; yet several families and single men have been applied for here, and sent to the Wairarapa. I am pleased to be able to report that nearly all the "' Rakaia " immigrants are disposed of —the unemployed consisting of three families with young children, and two single men. With regard to those now on the water —viz., 346 souls per " Zealandia," and 310 souls per " Arethusa" (I hope that a large proportion will be nominated, and go to their friends), I think it may take some time in getting employment for so many, there being a large number of unemployed here. It may therefore be necessary to keep them much longer than usual, and to provide additional accommodation to what I now have. But, with the advance of spring, it is to be hoped that the prospects of tho unemployed will improve. At present there are only two rooms for married people, one for single women, and none for single men. The cooking arrangements are also very bad, but can be made to do for all the depot will hold in its present state. I consider that the new regulations requiring the payment of £5 for the passages of all males over twelve years of age were much wanted, and will have a good effect in reducing the large number of nominations that have recently been made, and be the means of preventing persons nominating without being certain their friends will come out. I may be allowed to mention that the " Wairoa " sailed from London with 246 paid passengers, of whom 167 were in the steerage. About the same time the " Zealandia" sailed from Plymouth with 346 Government immigrants. I have, &c., James B. Redward, The Under Secretary tor Immigration. Immigration Officer.

No. 8. The Immigration Officer, Auckland, to the Undei: Secretary for Immigration. Sir— Auckland, 29th September, 1879. Re your memorandum, No. 348, my usual report for the period ending 30th June last was posted on the 12th July. With regard to the probability of employment for the 261 emigrants now afloat in the ship " Waikato " for this district, I do not anticipate any difficulty, provided those who are described as " agricultural labourers " and " servants " are really so. I notice there are thirteen smiths in the list of trades to arrive by the " Waikato." Not having yet received the ship's book, I am unable say whether they are nominated or assisted immigrants ; but, if they belong to the latter class, their chances of obtaining employment at their trade are small. With regard to the new regulations, I consider them a great improvement, and that they will be a slight gain to the colony. Tho number and class of immigrants by nomination will be sufficient to supply all the requirements of the District of Auckland for many years to come. I have, &c, Edward Brophy, The Under Secretary for Immigration. Acting Immigration Officer.

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No. 9. Memorandum from the Immigration Officer, Hokitika, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. In reply to your memorandum, No. 618, of the 15th instant, I have the honor to state that 1 was not aware that the report for the quarter ended 30th June last was required to be rendered, as that period was embraced in the annual report which was made up to that date. I will forward a report as early as possible. With regard to the payment of £5 cash by persons nominating male adults, I am of opinion that the system is generally approved in this district by persons who are in a position to nominate relations or friends; and, also, it is a check upon other persons who merely make nominations without over considering the liability they put themselves under by so doing ; also that it is a very reasonable demand on the part of the Government; and, although the number of nominations made may be decreased, still I think that the proportionate number of suitable colonists obtained will be increased. W. A. Spence, Hokitika, 29th September, 1879. Immigration Officer.

No. 10. Memorandum from the Immigration Officer, New Plymouth, to the Under Secretary for Immigration. In reply to your memorandum, No. 648, of the 15th September, I have the honor to state, in reference to quarterly report ending 30th June, 1579, I have nothing to add in addition to what I stated in my yearly report up to that date. I will proceed to report for the quarter ending 30th September, ] 879 : There has been full employment for every one at good wages all the winter. A considerable number would find employment in this district at the present time —viz., at farm work, harbour works, road and railway works, also bush-falling. There is still a great demand for single girls as general servants. I am of opinion that the nominated system answers well, and ought to be encouraged. It is a mistake to put on £5 for each adult male. I find persons are not anxious to nominate useless people with a chance of having them on their hands. The line must be drawn somewhere as to ages. I have applicants occasionally wishing to nominate a very desirable family, but the father, and probably the mother, are just over age. The nominator invariably states he cannot become responsible for the passage-money, but is willing to assist them all he can on arrival. In conclusion, I would recommend that the immigrants allotted to this district should arrive in October in preference to December ; and, if it could be arranged, it would answer better if a portion arrived at the beginning of October, and a portion on or about Christmas. C. Stapp, Major, New Plymouth, Ist October, 1879. Immigration Officer.

Authority : Oeokge DiDSBrRY, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79.

Price 6«1.]