IMMIGRANTS COMING

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1925, Page 4

IMMIGRANTS COMING

ONE THOUSAND PER MONTH APPROVED. WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. New Zealand is doing its lull share towards relieving Britain’s surplus population troubles, according to advice received to-day iroin the High Commissioner’s oflice, London. The communication states that approvals for migrants from the United Kingdom to New Zealand were averaging 1000 per month, whereas at the same period last year the average was g;X) per month. So lar as shipping airaugements are concerned, he! thing lcservations up until the end ol February total 4*250. Owing to the shipping dislocation resulting from the maritime strike, these berthing reservations will fall short of requirements by about 101)0. That, means that had there been no congestion, arrangements would have been made for those additional ](>:)'» migrants to come to the Dominion. But for the strike, the year, ns far as migratory movement is concerned, would have been a record one. Immigration problems were dealt with interestingly hv the ITider-Secre-tnry for Immigration (Mr If. D. Thompson) in the course of an address at Dunedin lasi week, and one of the aspects touched upon was the manner in which newly-arrived settlers who were granted loans meet their responsibilities when payment time arrives. Mr Thompson summed up the position In the following words: “Let me here state that under the loan clause in

the agreement migrants who, through no fault, of their own. are unable to find the required passage money arc ;,hle to borrow it on a fifty-fifty basis from the Imperial and New Zealand Governments. At the present time I In 1 re are TO!) such loans, and when | (.ell yoii that under 5 per cent of ibis number have tailed to pay the lirst instalment on the due date it will give you an idea, as to the class and grit of the immigrants who are beiim brought to our shores. Tins. 1 consider, is on- of The soundest arguments that can he put forward as to whether the newcomers arc being snecessl'ullv absorbed.” During the past live years up to the present dale, he added. lo.OdO Gu»ernmeut assisted migrants have arrived in the Dominion. Of this number failures do not amount to 1 per cent. Advice from an ollicial source in England, which came to hand to-day, confirmed Mr Thompson’s statements regarding loans. Tim writer pointed out that the percentage of losses in connection with Australian and Canadian loans was very high, adding that tee Overseas Department was ext ivioeK

plea -ed with the Dominion’s success ill lee ivcring loans. “In tact. pin(veded the despatch, “their remarks rc.-ardin- our business allo-c’h-r ate very llaOeriug. 1 was introduced to Lord ( larenduu. the new chairman ol (fie Overseas Committee. as ihe bright spot in immigration. representing a country ihal always knew what H v, anted and generally gol it." Regarding Ihe scheme for placing Englisa public and secondary school boys with \'-w Zealand farmers, the writer ot the communication states: “At the moment I have filled the quota up to ,he mid of .January, and I have told Mr tintkelcy-Evans, president of the English Public .School Boys’ Association. that the l-Vhruar.v party will be the last until May. Barents are continuously expressing to lot* then nppreeialion of the spirit in which your Department deals with the hoys, and that information comes, of course, from the lads themselves.”