NATURALISATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 156, 30 December 1938, Page 14

NATURALISATION

N.Z. FIGURES

NEW ARRIVALS

An indication ol the way that New Zealand's population nas been growing by favourable migration figures during the past year is given in the Gazette ol December 15 containing particulars of naturalisation. The names of those who were granted certificates of naturalisation during the last few months occupy nearly three page^ of the Gazette. Notice was also given of 83 persons who issued declarations of their desire to acquire British nationality under the sections of the legislation dealing with the national status of married women. Those to whom certificates were granted come from at least a dozen countries, principally from those of Central Europe. The countries of birth listed undei their applications include Greece Yugoslavia, Norway, Italy Denmark, Tonga. United States of America, Germany. Finland, Sweden, Russia, Rumania. Switzerland. France Belgium. Netherlands : Lebanon Hungary and Poland Many ot the names sound strange in New Zealand ears, and even as interesting are the listed occupations of these newest New Zealanders. They include restaurateur, vineyard worker, fisherman, retired grocer, labourer, watersider. shopkeeper, share-milker, milk bar proprietor, dairy-farmer, fish merchant, bootmaker, cook, presser, confectioner, orchardist. and several retired business men. There is even a war pensioner from the Netherlands. TOURIST FIGURES. The number oi visitors to this country also shows a big rise this year. Tourists on cruise liners, for instance, numbered for the eight months 3688, against 1315 last year, and 1655 the year before A big increase in the volume of shipping this year is also shown by the Abstract's returns of the number of members of ship crews. For the period reviewed the total this year was 42,159 seamen, against 39,712 last year, and 36,714 the year before —indicating greater prosperity for seaport towns.

Also significant of increased business in the cbuntry is the rise in the number of visitors whose listed reason for coming here is "for business." For this year these commercia] arrivals from overeas totalled 1045, for last year it was 971, antf the year before 819.