ASSISTED IMMIGRATION

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1947, Page 5

ASSISTED IMMIGRATION

-Press Association

New Zealand NegoSbting With Britain

By. Telegraph-

WELLINTON, March 21The High Commissio'ner for New ■Zealand in London is now negotiAting with the S.ecr,etary of ih.r p.ojjiijaion -affajps with & yi&w" tc tohe .concfusion o.f .^gye,ejnents for assistance to prospective emigrants j.New Zealand, said the Minister of Immigration, Mr. Mchagan, -iji & jtatejnent today. Draft agr^euient.^ .cpvering the conditiph.s under which .assistanc.e wi;ll be afforded have already been submitted to the Aominions Oflice. "■

It is hoped to conclude two .agreements with the United Kingdom Government, the fir.sf b.eing applicable to ex-ser-vicemen and women discharged from their forces -and che s.econd bejng for the benefit of ciyilian residents of the Unitpd Kingdom u'nder the terms of the Empire Settlement Act. The Minister said that in framing its proposals for the revival of a s.cheme of assisted irnmigratjgn dhe reporf of the Select Committee on population had 'been carefully smaied. It was -not possible at presept to givc :any reliable indica.ion of the numbers of immigrants hat could be brought to New Zealand in the initial stages of the xneme of assisted immigration, :as Mis was dependent upon the availabilioy of shipping and other problems which had yet to be examined more fully in conjunction with thc Unioed Kingdom Goveinment. • It seemed clear, despite the New Zealand Goyernment's strenuous ^iforps, that a dearth of shipping would seriously rescrict the number of immigranGs in the immediate future. Having regard to the shortage of shipping berths and New., Zeaiand's own housing difliculties, it would be desirable in the initjai stages of immigration to givt prei'erence to young single men and women who would undertake employment in relatively essenLiai .xiuustries where there was ^,n acute shortage of labour. In a' number of avenues of essential mipioyment accommodation was .available for embioye.es, and i„ would consequently be advisa.ble to alford every facility to Immigrants who would be employed in those industries. For instance, selected immigrants for employment in hospitals would be given the higtiest priority. The Government was, nevertheiess, anxious to obtain as soon as jracticable a steady flow of immigration, both male anu iemale, for other types of essential employment, including New Zeaiand's expanding manufacturfng industries. The numbers and categories of workers to be included in the assisted -immigration scheme were necessarily'1 mattreYs for further negotiation with the United Kingdom authorities. Immediately these were concluded a further announcement would be made and the immigrants of the types required at that stage be invited to lodge the applicaiions with the', immigration officer at New Zealand House. The Minister said it was not practicable to reopen the sy.stem of nominating immigrants and their families by New Zealand residents at the present juncture. This system might, however, be adopted at a- later stage, The Minister outlined the machinery steps for the revival of assisted immigration, and said the Government proposed to set up an immigration advisory council consisting of employers and employses, and also proposed to utilise the xisting employment advisory committee established under the Employment Act.