RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1921, Page 4

RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION

STRINGENT RULES FOR FOREIGNERS.

[ 11Y TMI.KOHAI’Il—PKII I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION']

WELLINGTON, Jan. 22,

The regulations under the Restricted Immigration Act governing the admission of foreigners t-o the Dominion are now much more stringent than formerly. In the applications to be sent to the Minister of Customs foreigners have to supply full information as to the character-and object of their visit, their occupation, and their state of health, and they have also to show that they are not disaffected, dangerous persons, or persons who advocate the overthrow by force or violence of constitutional government, and to guarantee that they will fully observe the laws at New Zealand. It is provided that for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of the two Acts an officer of the Customs shall board every vessel arriving from places Iteyond New Zealand at any port or harbour. The master of a vos-

sel is k> facilitate in every way the work of a Customs officer, and is to certify in writing as to whether there is any passenger or member of the crew on board the ship who is subject to the restrictions. Power is given a Customs officer to ask necessary questions, and failure to answer a question or to answer in a misleading way is to he an offence. No vessel arriving from beyond New Zealand is .to come alongside any wharf or landing place without the permission of an officer of the Customs. Any prohibited immigrant arriving at a New Zealand port en route to some place beyond New Zealand may be permitted to and for a period not exceeding twentyone days, provided that-there be deposited with the Collector oi Customs security by cash or bond, or other satisfactory security, tliat the person shall report himself to the collector upon his departure from New Zealand within the \ time specified. Every person resident in New Zealand j who desires to leave New Zealand with 1 the intention of returning, and who is a person who would require a pcimit to enter New Zealand, is to apply for a certificate of registration to the Collector of Customs at the port nearest to the place where he is best known, 01 nt the final port of departure. Tho collector shall issue a certificate and deliver it to the person applying when the latter is on hoard the ship by which he ia to leave Now Zealand. On the return to New Zealand of the person holding a certificate of registration, tho col Lector at the first port of arrival, if satisfied of the identity of the holder with the person named in the certificate, and that he has returned within four years after the date of registration, is to permit such person to land in New Zealand. Every person who commits ft breach of the regulations is liable to a tine of £3O.