MIGRATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4779, 21 November 1924, Page 3

MIGRATION.

AGREEMENT WITH BRITAIN. RENEWAL EXPECTED. it is considered likely that the present migration agreement between the British and New Zealand Governments will be renewed when it expires shortly. In connection with the New Zealand agreement, the present Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr L. S. Amery) stated: “I should like to draw attention to this fact; that New Zealand has agreed with us on assisted passage schemes very substantially ahead of any other Dominion in the very liberal assistance they give to the man with a family—that is to say, that children up to a certain age go entirely free, and the older sons and daughters at a very reduced rate. I think to-day a man with quite a large family can get to Ne,v Zealand on practically no more than,.it takes a man and his wife alone to go to Australia.” Tlie Commonweal tli Prime Minister (Mr Bruce) stated to a deputation of the New ’Settlers' League that negotiations were still pending with th® British Government for an alteration of the basis on which Australia was at present working. He was in hopes that .the new British Government would agree to their proposals. A suggestion was made to Mr Bruce that the proportion of the passage money charged to- the migrant should be reduced to something Ijke the New Zealand figure. He said that if they offered almost a free passage to Australia they might not get. the best type. “We hold the view,” said Mr Bruce, “that there ought to be a certain amount of obligation on the part of people’ coming to the Commonwealth, and it is necessary to ensure that intending migrants are persons of thrifty habits. Last year we arranged for much greater assistance, ia the case of a migrant with a wife and. several children, by way of passage money to be given in such cases. But it is always necessary to provide that a reasonable proportion of the passage money is paid by the migrant himself.”