STEADY ABSORPTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4667, 27 February 1924, Page 4

STEADY ABSORPTION.

NEW ZEALAND’S IMMIGRANTS. ABOUT 10,000 ANNUALLY. “I believe in immigration and the Government believes in immigration, but not at a- greater rate than the departriient is able to absorb the newcomers,’’ declared the Hon. Mr Noteworthy, Minister for Immigration, during the course of an address at M'asterton. The country, he said, was absorbing immigrants steadily, at the rate of about ten thousand a year, which was about as much as the present rate of development allowed. Since 1919 a total of 35,000 people had been brought into New Zealand, and owing to the system of nomination which had been adopted all Of them had been put in- the way of doing well for themselves.

The department, said the Minister, was careful to see that the right type of immigrant was being introduced, and to this end variety was being sought. It was not all old or mature people who were coming, for in the last three years eight thousand men and nine thousand women and . seven thousand children had landed on these shores. It would thus be seen, to use a homely phrase, that New Zealand “was stocking up with young stuff." A big reduction in fares had also been effected, the approximate reduction since 1921 being £B2 per family.