EXTERNAL MIGRATION

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 8

EXTERNAL MIGRATION

There is a table in the latest issue of the Abstract of Statistics that should give pleasure to the public men, and especially the Hon. W. E. Barnard, who have been advocating the resumption of immigration as one factor likely to assist in the development of the Dominion. As soon as the depression made itself felt to a serious extent the tide of external migration turned against the Dominion. In the years from 1929 to 1931 there had been an excess of arrivals over departures, the total in 1930-31 being about 4400. These were people described as “immigrants intending permanent residence.” In the following year there was an excess of permanent departures of about 550, and this movement continued until, in 1935-36, it' reached 2400, representing a loss of population to the Dominion. A contributing factor was, of course, the decision made some years earlier to suspend the system of assisted passages to immigrants. In 1926-27 there had been 11,239 assisted immigrants, but in 1934-35 there was only one, and in the previous year there were four. The number of immigrants who came here without State assistance in 1926-27 was 6898, but eight years later this had fallen to only 1578. The adverse movement of population was not confined to the Dominion. It was probably more marked in Australia, and Canada reported the same trend. But the figures for the past financial year show that, as far as New Zealand is concerned, the tide has turned. The arrivals intending to take up their residence here permanently totalled 4341, an increase of 1500 on the total for the preceding year. The departures were 3997, a figure almost the same as in 1936-37 but about 350 below that of 1935-36. There was an excess of arrivals over departures of 344, and that is the first excess recorded for several years. The new arrivals will have come without State assistance, and it would be interesting to have some explanation from official quarters of this development. The number of arrivals who intended to make their homes here has more than doubled in two years and a similar increase during the current period would see the total of immigrants close to that immediately prior to the depression. Doubtless the improvement in the conditions has attracted some people, and the latest figures will include all who had been promised work under the building scheme, but whatever the causes the fact that there is again an excess of arrivals over departures will please tho*c who contend that the Doirinion must build up its man-power, and extend its internal maikets.