RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 164, 7 April 1921, Page 4

RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION

GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO “MARK TIME” DANGER OF UNEMPLOYMENT The Minister in charge of Immigration (Hon. AV. Nosworthy) announced yesterday that in view of the difficulty likely to be met with in securing accommodation and employment during the winter months, Cabinet had decided to modify its immigration policy by restricting, passages to those immigrants who had assured employment and accommodation to go to on arrival in the Dominion. “So far, the Immigration Department has experienced very little difficulty (if any) in dealing with new arrivals, said tho Minister, and this is all the !® or ® gratifying when it is considered that from April 1, 1920, to March 31, 1921, some 9543 immigrants have landed on our shares. Of this number 4730 came out under the nomination system, and 4813 under the Imperial Overseas Settlement Scheme. In view, however, of the present outlook in the Dominion, it is considered advisable to 'mark time in the meanwhile.”

WORK FOUND FOR WAIMANA’S COMPLEMENT FOUR OTHER CONTINGENTS AFLOAT.

Contrary to expectations, the Immigration Department has succeeded in finding situations' for the whole of the complement of immigrants who arrived in the Dominion recently on the steamer AVaimana. The Railway Department tbok a good number of the men, while the AVestport Coal Company placed the majority of the miners and a fair number of unskilled men, the latter being taken on as truckers. Auckland district took most of file farm labourers, all of whom- were absorbed. Private contract work at Oamaru and Greymouth absorbed 25 unskilled labourers. t Having disposed of the AVaimana s contingent, til© Department is now faced with the problem of finding woik fol some 300 immigrants who are due> to arrive by the Shropshire on Saturday. The steamer is bringing 53 nominated nassengers, 107 other assisted passengers, and 130 ex-imperial soldiers, who are coming out under the overseas settlement scheme. Included in the last two categories are no fewer flhan 90 farm labourers, and how to place them is, a Dominion reporter was informed, considerobly exercising the Departmental officere The ether skilled workers mostly comprise miners, turners and fitters, while the overseas settlement passengers represent about as many different trades and callings as there are men. This month will be a busy one for the Department, for in addition to the Shropshire the Tainui is due on April 16 with a small number of overseas settlement and nominated passengers, and the Remuera on April 21 wulh a much larger con/plement, comprising 523 immigrants. Still another steamer, carrying immigrants, the lon to A? ° n 4 water, and she is due at AVellmgton on Mhv 8. The other steamers mentioned are ids® ® akin B Wellington their tat port of call in the Dominion. The lonic b bringing only' a limited number of immigrants, as she has not been specially fitted out for the traffic.