IMMIGRATION RETURNS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8481, 8 July 1907, Page 7

IMMIGRATION RETURNS.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. A steady, though moderate, stream of immigration has continued to our shores, reads the annual report of the Immigration Department, presented to Parliament on Friday afternoon, and the year closed with the gain of 1,243 souls over that given in last year's report. Owing to the limited area of Crown lands which New Zealand has to offer to its immigrants, it is useless to attempt to compete with such a country as Canada, with its vast areas of fertile land and its comparative proximity to the United Kingdom. But what New Zealand can, and does, offer is an equable climate, and life generally under the most agreeable and favourable conditions. Last year, the report goes on to say, forty steamers landed in the colony 3,712 souls—equal to 3,141 1 statute adults. They possessed amongst them a total capita] of £114,689, and an annual income of £1,988. The amount of passage money contributed by New Zealand through the High Commissioner was £12,570. In the early portion of last year a number of railway workers, under the heading of "navvies" arrived for work [on tho North Island Main Trunk, the total being 279, who with families numbered 507 souls; but representations having been sent to the High Commissioner that no further supply' was needed, he has discontinued granting any further passagfes to this class of settler. A total of 254 domestics were also granted assisted passages. Re latives to the number of 283J statute adults have also been nominated in New Zealand, and passage money to the amount, of £3,782 has been paid to this office for that purpose. "I am convinced," adds the Under-Secre-tary (Mr W. C. Kensington), "that this concession has been of great benefit in reuniting separate families." As to the general character of the immigrants the officers report that they have been of a very superior class, and the Under - Secretary affirms that the High Commissioner has exercised a very wise discretion in selecting them, and has added a fine and sturdy class of settlers, both men and women, to our numbers. The persons who have been approved for passages at reduced rates for the year are summarised as follows: — Farmers 466. navvies 279, domestics 254, artisans and miscellaneous 841.