MIGRATION HOPES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 9

MIGRATION HOPES

HUNDREDS APPLY

NEW ZEALAND HOUSE

MOSTLY ARTISANS

(By Air Mail, from "The Post's" London

Representative.)

LONDON, December 1

Some embarrassment has been caused New Zealand House officials by repor>s in English newspapers of an announcement by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that he proposed "controlled migration of British skilled artisans." Mr. Savage is reported to have said that they would be necessary for the realisation of a "new deal" plan for expanding industrial production and employment. ' . ; / The constant inquiries at New Zealand House by telephone, letter, \ and callers, which during recent months have, averaged something like 100 a day, have shot up in the past few days to a daily average approaching 150. The majority have been from skilled labourers — carpenters, bricklayers, builders—most' of whom have asked for particulars about assisted passages. New Zealand House, however, has not been in a position to advise them, since no.details, nor any communication, had been received from the Dominion regarding a proposed migration scheme. As numerous inquiries followed the publication of Mr. Savage's reported' speech, a telegram was sent to New Zealand asking whether the reports were true, and, if so, what steps were to be taken. "NO OFFICIAL ADVICE." In the meantime, applicants were told that although a system of controlled migration to New Zealand had been reported, "no official advice had been received here." Whatever the scheme decided upon by the New Zealand Government, it was unlikely that the need for skilled workmen would be immediate, and it was suggested that perhaps applicants "would care to communicate with this office in a few months'-.time." They were also told that although an extensive building scheme had recently been inaugurated and was likely to go on for a long time, "the Government is unable to advise inquirers of any particular vacancies, and does not. undertake to find work for migrants on arrival." SIMILARITY OF LETTERS. The letters \ received have all been very similar. >A young married man, "experienced in thfe building industry and agriculture," asked for of "the scheme," and added: "I would like very much to have the chance of "going to New Zealand." Two car* penters, one 23,* the other 24, also asked for particulars, and a bricklayer said: "I am at present employed, but owing to bad weather and hours, I' have often thought of migrating, but have not got the money necessary." He offered to pay back his fare "by degrees." i Another declared that he would "welcome the chance to live and work in that marvellous country." A woman whose husband is "a grand workman." declared that her married sister had gone to New Zealand ten years ago. She added: "How she praises the country!" With her husband and two children, she could liye with this sister for a period on arrival. , Other inquiries'were from the treasurer of a parochial church council, a miller, a coach finisher, a general machinist; while several applications have / been received from men just down from universities.,, Fewest applications' come from miners, the most from skilled artisans; not many agricultural workers apply. CZECHOSLOVAK SCHEME. Foreigners continue to make applications, the latest of which come from Iceland, where several New Zealanders have recently been. Their praise of the Dominion has evidently fired a desire among Icelanders to migrate. One applicant was a clerk, another a farmer. . ' The most, ambitious application has come from a Czechoslovakian. He applied to the New Zealand Fruit Board, saying that he wanted to take 50 to 60 Czedhoslovakians to New Zealand. Each would have about £500, a total of about £30,000. The letter, said: "We are intending to leave Czechoslovakia in the shortest of time for New Zealand to acquire a big fruit farm for export. We expect td do everything as far as is possible on this farm by ourselves.", Information as to the "Shortest way to get permission for landing and settling,' and the price of land," were asked, and whether it was permissible to take tractors and agricultural implements. "We have sufficient funds at our disposal," the letter went on. "We are allowed by the National Bank to take £500 each, or £30,000 altogether. We intend to spent half-part of the money for soil, and to take other soil in lease." The writer offered to come to London for an interview. A Lithuanian wrote inquiring whether she would be allowed to establish a paint factory in New Zealand. These applications from foreigners are, of course, referred to and dealt with by the Customs Department in Wellington. AUSTRALIAN SCHEMES. While New Zealand is popular with would-be migrants, Australia is even more'desirable, according to numbers. Anything up to 300 inquiries from British people alone are dealt with there daily, while' many applications are also received at agencies in various provincial centres. Australia has, in fact, three schemes by which people may now be assisted. They were first introduced last March. began to operate in June, and in the six months to the end of \this year it is estimated that 11,000 people will have left Britain for the ' Commonwealth. Some 300 people are leaving on three ships in the next ten days. The most popular of three schemes is that by which people in' Britain are nominated by friends in Australia. This is regarded as the soundest form of immigration, since the migrants have temporary homes to go to, and receive personal assistance and encouragement to find work by their friends /and relatives. In some cases they have work to go to. * ; The second scheme is for boys from 15 to 18 for farm work, and for young women for housework. They are nominated by a number of organisations in England, such as the Salvation Army, the Big Brother Movement, and the Church Army. The third 1s for people who hstve no friends or relatives to nomipete them, and do not qualify for the "young people" class. They are assisted, providing they have a certain amount of capital, about £300, to tide them over before they can find work. •. ' SKILLED ARTISANS WANTED. The type mostly encouraged to go to Australia is much the same as that required by New Zealand—the skilled artisan, the bricklayer, the plumber the carpenter, and the engineer. Tailors, for instance, are not encouraged. The majority of people applying "to Australia House, as at New Zealand House, find that their chief obstacle is the fare. No loans are

granted. The medical examination is also rigid.

"There is a remarkable interest being taken in the Dominions all over the country," an official at Australia House said. "People are talking migration now, and you can be sure that they will not leave home to go abroad 'unless they were reasonably sure that they will be better off." He added jokingly: "The longer New Zealand delays immigration schemes, the better it is from our point of view." Canada House and South Africa House also receive an average of anything up .to 60 or 70 applications a day. British and foreign. No encouragement in the way of assisted passages is granted. Canada requires chiefly agricultural workers. South Africa admits no preference for any type, but merely states the qualifications necessary and the regulations to be observed.