H—ll

(2) Although the measures taken have effectively extended the field of selection, the Immigration Branch of the High Commissioner's Office has experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining adequate numbers of suitable unmarried females and skilled male tradesmen. An indication of the efforts made by the Immigration Branch to obtain suitable immigrants and the difficulties encountered is given in the following table, which summarized the work of the Branch during the past year :

(3) Of those remaining under action at the end of the year, 1,152 men and women had been interviewed and selected and were awaiting embarkation or medical examination. The extension of occupational categories, together with a vigorous publicity campaign undertaken by the Immigration Branch, had the desired effect of increasing the number of applications received during the year. However, slightly more than half the persons applying for assisted passages have been beyond the present scope of the scheme, or rejected on medical grounds, or have failed to proceed to the final stage of embarkation. (4) Male applicants considerably outnumber female applicants. Although a number of applications are received from typists and other female clerical workers, women workers in secondary industries and other occupations are generally reluctant to migrate and prefer to retain the close family ties and established social life of their home communities. It is unlikely that greater numbers of female applicants will come forward until it is possible to extend assistance to entire family groups. Particular difficulty has been experienced in obtaining women for hospital work as the British authorities have been exploring every avenue to obtain women for their own hospitals and have recently increased salaries by a considerable amount. Despite this difficulty, more than 200 women arrived in New Zealand under the immigration scheme during the last year to take up work in hospitals. (5) In the case of males there has been a preponderance of applications from unskilled workers. As such applicants have not usually had previous experience in the specific occupations they might undertake in New Zealand, they are selected on the basis of general suitability and previous experience in allied occupations. Many applications from tradesmen have to be declined because the trade training of the applicant has been too specialized to satisfy the more general requirements of industry in New Zealand. It has been found that "the ages of eligible tradesmen applicants generally lie within the range from twenty to twenty-six years. Continued difficulty is anticipated in attracting any large number of applications from tradesmen and women workers until the shortage of accommodation in New Zealand is overtaken and it becomes possible to extend the immigration scheme to cover married persons with families. (6) Under the general immigration scheme applicants are selected for the various essential productive and servicing occupations in accordance with quotas which are determined by the Government acting in consultation with the Immigration Advisory Council. This Council, which is composed of representatives of the main workers' and employers' organizations and other interested national bodies, was established in 1947 for the express purpose of advising on immigration matters and assisting the Department in implementing immigration policy. A close watch is maintained upon the employment

15

— Males. Females. Total. Total applications under action at 1st April, 1948, and 8,317 3,025 11,342 received during year Applications lapsed, voluntary withdrawals, persons out5,052 1,326 6,378 side present scope of scheme, unsuitable, &c. Total sailed (including those in transit) 1,434 835 2,269 Total remaining under action, 31st March, 1949 1,831 864 2,695