IMMIGRATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1924, Page 1

IMMIGRATION.

TUB YEAR'S STATISTICS.

WELLINGTON. August 13,

Ail immigrants art.iving in New Zcat land last year, with a few exceptions wore satisfactorily absorbed into-the population according to the annual roI port of the Department of 'immigration. It was anticipated a year ago that the passing of the Km] ire Settlement Act. 1922, by the Imperial Parliament, would haw* the effect ol stimulating the flow of British immigrants ta New Zealand and greatly decreasing tlie cost of passage money per capita. Owing chiefly to the fact that the new agreement between the llome and Dominion Governments did not (oiite into force until duly. 1923. it was impossible to place before the people of New Zealand the greatly ieduced lares from tlie Knited Kingdom until the latter end of last year. The agreement. whiili expires next year. ] rovides for passage money as low as £.ll tor farm labourers and married adults while domestics got free passages. “Encorraremold is given.” says the report, “to that most important phase of all immigration policies, juvenile mid child migration. At the present time the percentage of this class to the total .number arriving stands a'

per cent., i.ut 4 is lulled that the result would lie 100 per cent, next year. In five years after arrival the Dominion would have a most valuable asset for money "expended in augment ing the population,” The report also reviews the i eheine recently instituted of the migration of public and secondary school hoys from Britain as farm cadets. The total nunilier of {nominations lor assisted passages during the year was 3512. mi average of uS per week, compared with the previous year’s total- of —ot?2 or 50 per week. The yeai’s weekly average ropiesonted 71(!() souls per annum. This should increase to between 10.000 and 10.000 under the present agreement. 'the total nuiu.her of arrivals in New /calami from the United Kingdom d,tiring the year ended .March gist lat was 11.1ST, excluding returning New Zealanders. (Jf the total nifmber arriving 0752 were as-fisted by the Government. t)f those assisted 5001 were uuxinated, vlpile 758 were applicants. The chief occupations were : Wives ... ... 1125 Domestics ... ... 051 Farmers ... ... SGG - Mechanics ... ... 277 Labourers ... ... 132 Engineers ... ... Ill) Clerks 87 Carpenters ... ... SI Shop assistants ... 77 Joiners ... ... 5G Ihe distribution of nominated immigrants was: Auckland ... ... 2157 Wellington 1380 Canto; bury 713 Otago ... ... 570 Hawke’s Bay ... 318 Nelson ... ... 280 Taranaki ... ... 15G Southland ... ... 1-11 West la n.-1 ... ... 1321 Marl borough. ... ... 30