ASSISTED IMMIGRATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1651, 18 January 1906, Page 2

ASSISTED IMMIGRATION.

“ PENAL CLAUSE OF THE ACT.’ 1

IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS.

At the meeting of the Provincial Exe' cutivo of the Farmers’ Union yesterday a letter was received from Mr 0. H. MoCutohan, enclosing a memo on the subject of assisted immigration, which he asked should be brought under the notice of all branches for an expression of opin’ox “ In view,” he stated, “of the lengths whioh Canada and other Btates are going to to secure desirable oolonists, and tbe obvious benefits direotly acoruing, I think tbe time has come when we should open the door wider by modifying what might be termed the penal clause of the Act.” The memo was as fo’laws: Approved applicants must be posso3sed of £SO, be in good hoaltb, and have their application endorsed by the Agent-General. Nothing els°, as far as I can sse, is required by the Act.

Ineligible applicants inferentially may bo (1) Capable mechanics or tradesmen, physique right, but beoause they cannot put up £SO they are barred. (2) An agricultural laborer similarly, though a most desirable coloniat, will be disapproved, because, perhaps, after payiDg for outfit, etc., bo is £lO or £ls short of the minimum. (3) A female applicant who may have qualified iu a technical school or elsewhere, say cookery, or as a typist and phonetio writer, or a nursp, or a teacher,or simply as a domestic servant, is in every ease ineligible without tne money. So then an average adult without anything to recommend him specially to the Agent General, except his £SO note, will obtain a £l9 or £2l berth to New Zea’and for £lO or £l2, while a gentlewoman, capable, healthy,and willing, and bringing with her, educationally, what has perhaps cost, and is certainly worth, several times £SO, is denied assistance, because seemingly money is preferred before skill and training. Is this right? Again the Act says : “ Warrants for passages can bo obtained in New Zealand from any of tho companies’ agents on payment oi full amount of ordinary fare, tbe Government contribution and special allowance to be refunded on subsequent production of the Agrnts General's approval in writing.” This s'mply spells nominated immigration.

Now a nominated immigrant is, a priori, a desirable colonist because bo is practically endorsed by, it may bs assumed, some one in a responsible position here. I submit, therefore, that when a citizen of repute nominates (whether as friend or employer) through the Department of Industries, he should only be required to prepay the reduced fare, and that on produo-, tion in London of medical certificate and credentials es to character and capacity, the nominee should b 3 “ approved ” by the Agent-General. If disapproved, the fare to be refunded without deduction. A moment’s reflection ought to convieoe anyone that a sound (cchnical training is a better asset than a bank nets for £SO, and that this clause, in a greater measure defeats its own end. A capable meebauio is declared to be worth £250 to the State as a colonist. Under the Immigration Act £5 is the State’s contribution towards his pasßßge money ; a berth in a four-berth cabin costs £l9 ; tho immigrant (approved) pays £lO ; the ship £4 ; the Government £5. It is not suggested that the £SO clause should be deleted, but I think the benefiiß of the Act should be extended to nominated persona with or without £SO.