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Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1925, Page 2

Just ns New Zealand's trade follows the British fi n>j:. so the migration of people to the Dominion comes also from British countries—hist year to the extent of 93.3 per cent. The Government Statistician's annual review of overseas migration tells the same story as usual—a story that justifies the statement of the lTince of Wales when he was here five years ago. that the eonntrv was. is. mnl intends to he.

“unrepientantly" British. The Sydney files to hand this week tell of anxiety in Australia regarding an application by 300,C00 Russians to gain admission to the Commonwealth. No similar request was received hy New Zealand, for. as the Immigration Director. Mr 11. D. Thomson, points out, it has heroine pretty well known all over the world, or among countries with an emigrating surplus, that assisted passages to New Zealand are confined exclusively to Britishers, and that none others need apply. During 1921. 11.314 persons, intending permanent residence in the country, arrived in New Zealand. compared with 11,762 of a similar class in 1923. Eliminating the temporary class, emigrants totalled 2.2,36., which showed a net permanent gain to the Dominion hy migration of 12,0-38 as compared with 6288 in 192.8. Of those intending permanent residence, nearly one-fourth were under T 3 years of age. Of the males, the principal occupations were: Agricultural and pastoral, J .34!) labourers ami general 912; mechanics and artisans, 601; clerks, professions, -168; mining and quarrying 383. Females: Dependants 2661; personal or domestic service 1032; clerks etc.. 331 ; factories, 231 ; commerce and finance 140.

Till: possibility of extended co-opera-tion between the State and luettl authorities in housing deserves consideration since it is fairly clear that such results as reasonably might he expected from the policy under which the ■State is advancing large sums in aid of housing are not in But being obtained. In the live years to March 31, 1921. the State Advances Board authon’tsod loans totalling close oil ton millions sterling for the purpose of building houses and acquiring homes, and for releasing mortgages n linie.sloeeeec for releasing mortgages on homes. Lpwards of one million was applied to the release of existing mortgages. I low much of the remaining sum of nearly nine millions was lor the acquisition of existing houses, as distinct from the building el new houses, is not stated, hut it is. ol course, a familiar fact that until recently many loans were made to enable people to purchase existing houses. It is understood that ol late, loans have been made hy tnc Department chiefly for the erection of new house ; and presumably the whole of the housing advances of 1623.(1011 made during the nine mouths to the end of December last were for this purpose. Probably the State could do much more to increase housing a; eoniiuodution by entering into extended financial (o-operation with local bodies, in the large cities where the need for more homes is so pressing, than by reverting to its former polity ol making advances either for the aequisiton or erection of houses. '[ hi- policy has obvious weaknesses. Loans made lor

the acquisition of existing houses not only make no eon trihut inn to a solution of the housing problem, hut must tend in some degree to intensify it hy making houses dearer.