MANY IMMIGRANTS WANT HOME IN N.Z

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1946, Page 8

MANY IMMIGRANTS WANT HOME IN N.Z

-Presp Association

POLICY SO FAR IS TO REFUSE

Bv 3eleciravh—

WELLINGTON, May 2. "Ever since the war many ..applications have been. coming from nationals in Europe," said Mr. E. D. Good, Oomptroller of Customs, belore the Committee on Population, todgy. They included, he said, persons with' relatives in New Zealand . and many inquiries by pergoiiB who had come to New Zealand as refuges, .about Obtaining permits for rya^tives and friends in Europe. It/hjid been the.generail,'pbliey • in the mea*ntinie, to deeline such. applications unless the eireumstances were inost exeeptibnal. Alien applications for entry into New Zealand were largely from business and professional porsons. .Mr. Thorn, chairmah of the Committee, said there had been representations 011 behalf of Ihe Jewish eommunity asking for sympathetie consideration of fu ture -migration to New Zealand. He asked Mr. Good for an expression of his views on the question and suggested lie miglit prefer to do so .in committee. This course was adopted. In his general statement Mr. Good said that at the beginning of each year it had been the practice to prepare a statement showing the poliey followed in previous years, to' help the Minister in determining a policy for the next 12 months. Over a fairly lengthy period before the war and before the Nazi persecution of Jews began, it. was the policy favourably to consider applications from suitable Northern Europeans. Southern Europeans were iiot regarded as so suitable for assimilation into the eomniunity and except for wives and minor children of Southern Europeans already in New Zealand, applications generally had been declined. . "The persecution of the Jews in Europe resulted in a flood of applications from Jews," said Mr. Good. "In view of the humanitariap issues involved, many more permits were granted than previously. " In order that too many refugees should not enter oue particular oecupation, tlie Departments of Labour and Industries and Commerce, were consulted in each case before a recommendation was made to the Minister. Aftcr the outbreak of war it was deeided that permits eonld not be issiied except in verv exceptional cases. No assistance was granted for alien migrants and 110 oftieial machinery was established for theii reception, placing and after care. The Minister was the iinal authoi'ity in the issue of permits for aliens, and Mr. Good said experience had shown that aliens such as Yugoslavs, although good citizens, were apt to live in groups. His feeling was that immigrants should be easily and quickly assimilated and from that viewpoint, Southern Europeans were not so desirable as Northern Europeans. In submissions 011 behalf of the Department of Labour, Mr. G. M. F. Jackson said 40 to 50 inquiries from prospective .migrants were being received weekly by the department. Many were Ilritish. Perhaps lialf of j them relied on the old idea of assisted .passages but a good propoftion was ready to provide finance. Many had 1 been in the scrviees. . " . j Mr. G. W. Aibertson, Director of ' Ilousing Construction, in the course of I an anulysis of the accommodation prob- ■ leni and shortage of -materials, said: j "It will be "seen that uny large-scale i immigration policy, if implemented j during the next two or three. -years, is ! likely further to embarrass the hous- j ing situation in this country. We must ! expect to provide, say, oue house for j each 3.7 immigrants unless tliey are ' children who might be housed otlier- 1 wise. " Mr. Aibertson said that, while the! housing shortage might be a contribut- j ing factor in the population deeline, j there were also eeononiic, biological; and psycholo.gical considerations. It | could be stated that where applications j for State houses were greatest, the ' nuuiber of children per family was gen- \ erally siuallest. I Evidence 011 behalf of the State Advances Corporation was given by the seeretary, Mr. Iv. J. CaverhiH, who said a recent survey shdyved a shortage of 25,000 housing units-.i; :■ - -2 • : ' ! " X . a