NEW IMMIGRATION LAW.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 591, 10 December 1920, Page 2

NEW IMMIGRATION LAW.

RULES FOR ENFORCEMENT.

PREPARATION NOW IN HAND

THE POWER OF EXEMPTION

The n'w Immigration Act which passed int<) law last, session gave power to the Minister for Customs t'i frame such regulations as might be 'necessary for its complete administration, and to authorise them by Ordcr-in-Cooncil. These regulations were now in course of preparation. the. Prime Minister stated on Saturday, and would be gazetted in the course the next few weeks. One .of the matters which was left to the discretion of the Minister was thf ■exemption of the subjects of any ration from the necessity of obtain ing a permit before entering the Do ;..■': i«n. Tboy would thus he place<

.-.•I Ibo samu footing as those .if British birth and parentjgo. The announcement of the nntions so to be cxempied. • said Mr. woulr' probably be made simultaneously wih the gazetting of the regulations The Imperial authorities ha 1 a<*i.cpled I ii<- new measure, and haH disclaimed any objection to its enforcement. Then: had been some question when it was before the House of Repvcsentiitr/es, whether it should be reserved, for the Royal Assent, but this course had not proved necessary. The Act was in force at the present time. From the date when its cnfcicement was announced in the Dominion it became necessary for all intending entrants except those of I British birth and parentage to obtain 1 from the Minister for Customs a permit to enter New Zealand. Application had to be made to the Minister by the immigrant from his country of origin or the country in which he had resided for one year prior to em limitation. Those entering the Dominion at present were persons who had been already at sea when the new law came into force, having embarked under the old conditions. The business of arranging for applications for permits was an elaborate one. There was one safeguard, added Mr. Massey, that the Minister for Cus-1 toms had the power to admit tempor- i arily any person approved, but without a permit, for a period not €Xreedirjr six months. This provision i would be utilised in any case where | the change over from the old order to the new was the cause of injustice being done to a would-be entrant into New Zealand. i