D. —9

2

loans, of which number 507 have been fully paid off, 365 are being paid off, .18 have been written off, and instalments outstanding on the remaining 154 have not yet become due. These figures go to show that the Government has availed itself of the provisions of the Empire Settlement Act, and that the result of the repayments of these loans is an indication that these migrants have been satisfactorily absorbed. The number of assisted migrants that arrived in the Dominion during the past year shows an increase of 48 per cent, on the previous year's figures —in fact, the total is the largest since the year 1880 : of this total 37 per cent, were men, 30 per cent, women, and 33 per cent, children, and nearly all have been readily and satisfactorily absorbed. Included in the men's total are 14 per cent, of farmers, farm labourers, and miners, and as these go direct to the farms and the mines for their occupation it will be seen that only 23 per cent, of the total number of migrants come into competition for other occupations in the labour-market —truly a very small percentage ; and, as these were all nominated migrants, positions awaited them upon arrival in practically all cases. It is pleasing to record the manner in which the nominators have carried out their obligations in regard to maintenance and employment for their nominees. In a few cases, where the nominators found themselves unable to carry out their obligations through circumstances over which they had no control, the Department has always come to the rescue, to the satisfaction of the new-comers. Children and Juveniles. —There is no doubt that this class of migration under proper conditions is of immense advantage both to the migrants themselves and to the Dominion. They grow up from tender years accustomed to New Zealand conditions, and if placed upon the land they have not nearly so great an inclination to drift back to the towns as have older immigrants whose habits have been formed by previous environment. On the other hand, the Dominion, by training the children in its schools and placing the youths on the land according to its own conditions, gains citizens of the true New Zealand spirit. During the past five years approximately fifteen thousand migrants under this heading have come to the Dominion. Included in this total are 1,400 juveniles who have been brought out under the following special land schemes, and they are doing exceedingly well: — Public and secondary school boys' scheme .. .. .. .. 630 Salvation Army scheme .. .. .. .. .. .. 403 Flock House boys .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 266 Flock House girls .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Fellowship of British Empire Exhibition Scholarship at Ruakura State Farm 12 Church of England boys .. .. .. .. .. 53 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1,400 It is indeed pleasing for me to be able to state that five boys under the public and secondary schools scheme have purchased farms of their own, and several parents, together with their families (who were preceded by their sons under this scheme), have taken up permanent residence in the Dominion. Reports from the organizations controlling the other juvenile schemes, as to progress, &c., are entirely satisfactory. Restriction.—ln view of the economic conditions ruling at the commencement of the present year it was necessary for a reconsideration of the volume of immigration, and it was decided that during the forthcoming winter months the number of assisted migrants should be reduced to a minimum. The total number of arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom and Ireland during the year ended 31st March, 1927, was 14,943 (8,457 males and 6,486 females). Out of the total number of persons arriving—namely, 14,943 —11,239 were assisted to New Zealand by the Imperial and New Zealand Governments. The number of assisted immigrants is made up of persons nominated from New Zealand and of persons themselves applying for assisted passages in London. During the year the following steamers brought out assisted immigrants :—

v , Date Number of Assisted Date Number of Assisted of Arrival. Immigrants. ' ' of Arrival. | Immigrants. Corinthic .. 7/4/26 297 Tekoa .. 24/10/26* 1 Suffolk .. 17/4/26* 1 Ruahine .. 31/10/26 257 Remuera .. 19/4/26 338 Port Bowen .. 11/11/26* 1 Ionic .. 7/5/26 370 Taimii .. 14/11/26 299 Hororata .. 17/5/26 595 Jervis Bay .. 23/11/26* 1 Mahana .. 21/5/26 756 Arawa .. 25/11/26 380 Ruapehu .. 25/5/26 237 Medic .. 27/11/26* 1 Arawa .. 4/6/26 173 Mataroa .. 13/12/26 380 Ruahine .. 14/6/26 216 Athenic . . 21/12/26 399 Tainui .. 16/7/26 344 Rotorua . . 24/12/26 200 Athenic .. 2/8/26 371 Corinthic .. 9/1/27 337 Rotorua .. 7/8/26 237 Remuera .. 10/1/27 263 Corinthic .. 24/8/26 363 Pakeha .. 28/1/27 591 Largs Bay .. 24/8/26* 1 Rimutaka .. 2/2/27 226 Rimutaka .. 1/9/26 334 Ionic .. 8/2/27 298 Remuera .. 5/9/26 330 Hororata .. 1/3/27 509 Ionic .. 23/9/26 368 Tamaroa .. 7/3/27 260 Ruapehu .. 5/10/26 224 Ruapehu .. 14/3/27 237 Hororata .. 11/10/26 571 Ruahine . . 19/3/27 93 Oronsay .. 16/10/26* 1 Tamaroa 16/10/26 379 Total .. .. 11,239 I I * Date of sailing.