IMMIGRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 494, 14 October 1909, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

REPORT FOR 1908-09

NUMBERS AND COST,

Among the reports laid on the table of the House of Representatives was the annual return relating to the immigration that has taken place in New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year 190 S-09. It shows that the number of statute adults who received passages at reduced rates during the twelve months amounted to 41411, equalling 4953 souls. These, it is stared, were distributed' over 47 trips of the several steamers coming to the Dominion —an average of 105 souls for each steamer. Ten vessels sailed in the quarter ended June 30111, eleven in the September quarter, thirteen in the December quarter, and thirteen in the March quarter. The capital of those who hod been assisted amounted to ,£96,055 and in addition to this a few were in receipt of small incomes which totalled to ,£462 a year. The number of persons that were nominated by relatives in the Dominion during the year was 2289, and the money received from the nominators towards the cost of the passages amounted to ,£18,484. The High Commissioner reports that during the past year the number of people going to Canada diminished owing to discouraging reports, and accordingly the stream of people leaving the United Kingdom was diverted to other colonies and of these we no doubt obtained a full share. Hence it happened that, starting with the s.s. lonic, which left Dondon for New Zealand in July, 1908, the passenger vessels for the Dominion have carried large numbers of fullpayiug passengers, who trusted that in a country like this they would find themselves in a better position than that which they occupied in the United Kingdom. The majority of the applicants at the High Commissioner's office, did not proceed any further or make formal application. Nevertheless there were 2191 completed applications for reduced passages which were declined by the Higl Commissioner. Inspections are made under the High Commissioner’s instructions of the persons who obtain passages at reduced rates upon every vessel. The Dondon office takes no action in regard to those who may be emigrating and who have made their own arrangements with the shipping companies. The number of persons who arrived from the United Kingdom during the year and who had made their own arrangements with the companies was 7121. It might be mentioned that some of them had applied for reduced rate passages, but as they were not eligible under the conditions in vogue, they were refused the concession. Of those who were refused there were 332 wives and 826 children of persons who had previously arrived, and, finding employment, nominated their families for passages at reduced rates. It is stated above that the capital introduced into the Dominion during the year by those who were assisted amounted to ,£96,055, but it must be remembered that: this only applies to those who have been nominated in the Dominion, as one condition of the nomination must be that the person doing so has provided or will provide for his nominees upon his arrival. The number of letters received during the year was 6330, and 7235 were despatched from the office. From attached statistics it appears that the total amount of passage-money paid by the High Commissioner was ,£16,566. Of the 2822 persons approved by the High Commissioner, 2339 came under the heading of “Farmers’’ and included 1016 single men and heads of families, 461 were domestics, and 22 persons, including seven adults, came under the heading “Artisans and Miscellaneous.” The 2131, persons authorised by the Immigration Department in New Zealand includes 238, of whom xlB were adults under the heading “Farmers” 173 domestics and 1720, including 600 adults under the heading “ Artisans and Miscellaneous.”