DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT UPON THE OPERATIONS OF THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1906 Session II, D-09

Q.—m

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT UPON THE OPERATIONS OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sik, '— Department of Immigration, Wellington, 12th July, 1906. In accordance with your direction, 1 have to submit the following report upon the number and class of immigrants who have arrived in New Zealand from the Ist April, 1905, to the 31st March, 1906; and also upon the general scope of the working of the Immigration Department in New Zealand and of the Emigration Department under the High Commissioner in London. I have, &c, Wμ. C. Kensington, Under-Secretary. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration, Wellington.

REPORT UPON IMMIGRATION. It may not be out of place to preface the report by a few remarks upon (a) the general scope of the Department's work in New Zealand, and (b) upon the work performed by the High Commissioner in London, upon whom devolves the onerous duties of selecting the emigrants from the United Kingdom and granting to them assisted passages. (a.) The Immigration Department's duties in New Zealand have hitherto been confined to receiving and answering all correspondence received from the High Commissioner, and also answering the numerous inquiries from persons anxious to bring out relatives from the United Kingdom. It has also recorded the amounts paid to the shipping companies as against the parliamentary votes, and has arranged direct with persons anxious to bring out their relatives, receiving the amounts deposited for the passages, and then advising the High Commissioner. Since the close of the financial year a new departure has been taken—viz., the sending of an experienced officer on board the steamers upon arrival to, in conjunction with an officer from the Labour Department, afford immigrants information and assistance.

2

2

(6.) The High Commissioner's Responsibilities. —Upon the High Commissioner iv Loudon devolves the whole of the arduous work and responsibility of selecting the emigrants, and of making known the resources of New Zealand by advertisements liberally distributed throughout the United Kingdom, by issuing pamphlets and leaflets setting forth the advantages New Zealand offers, and by arranging for lantern exhibits and lectures wherever advisable. The High Commissioner also insists upon the emigrants being of good physique, and healthy in body and mind. In passing I would mention that he has been eminently successful both as to the class of emigrants sent from the shores of Great Britain and in their general physique and high character. That New Zealand has benefited very largely by the High Commissioner's judicious selections the following statistics will show: — Statement showing the Number of Persons who have received Passages at Reduced Rates for Twelve Months from Ist April, 1905, to Slst March, 1906. —Number of souls, 2,469; number of statute adults, 2,076; capital in possession of passengers, £110,204; income derivable by passengers, £1,960; amount of money contributed by Government to shipping companies, in addition to sums paid by passengers, £8,304. This is supplemented by a detailed statement attached hereto, giving, for each steamer, the same particulars as are given in the above statement. Subjoined is also a summary showing the number of persons approved by the High Commissioner to whom assisted passages would be granted, under the separate headings of "farmers," "artisans," and "miscellaneous," totalling altogether 3,291 souls. The number accounted for as having actually embarked for the same period is 2,469 souls, leaving a balance of 822 persons who either changed their minds or embarked at a later date. Navvies for New Zealand. Much has been written in the public Press upon the subject of granting assisted passages to navvies. It is therefore interesting to note that for the past financial year the High Commissioner approved of 150 applicants and declined 170, whilst only 44 actually embarked. Assisted Passages gkanted to Relatives. For some considerable time it has been made evident that help was needed to enable families to reunite in New Zealand. Husbands who had preceded their families, and who were making good progress, though finding it naturally uphill work at first, were anxious to bring out their wives and children. Brothers wished to bring out brothers, and other relations were anxious to be reunited. The Government therefore decided that these persons should be allowed to pay either the £10 or £12 for each adult (according to the berthing accommodation required) to the Undersecretary for Immigration at Wellington, furnishing at the same time the full names, ages, and addresses of their relatives. The High Commissioner is then advised to grant them assisted passages, provided they are in good health. In many cases where the whole amount could not be deposited owing to lack of means, amounts have been received upon account, and undertakings accepted to pay the balances at stated times. These promises, I am glad to say, have all been honourably kept. Passages for 120 statutory adults have been sanctioned under this arrangement, the amount deposited with this office in Wellington being £1,175 18s. 6d. General. In January last the Chairman of the Emigration Committee of the Imperial Government, Mr. Henry Lambert, arrived upon a short visit to New Zealand after having made an extensive tour of the several States of Australia. An endeavour was made to make his visit as pleasant as the short time at his disposal permitted, and also to enable him to obtain a general idea of the colony's capabilities as a field for emigration from the United Kingdom. Mr. Lambert's visit also led to the sending to the Emigration Office, London, of a larger amount of useful information. Second Edition of " Immigrants' Guide and Settlers' Handbook." The first edition of this work having been found very serviceable, a second edition, on difierent lines, is now in print and will shortly be ready for issue by the Lands Department. Some 15,000 copies will at once be sent to the High Commissioner for distribution in the United Kingdom.

3

I).— 9

Return showing the Names of the Vessels which carried Passengers at Reduced Rates from the United Kingdom for the Year ending 31st March, 1906; and also the Number of Persons granted Passages, together with the Amount of Capital possessed by them.

.Summary of Persons who have been approved from the Ist April, 1905, to the 31st March, 1906. —Farmers: Single Men and Heads of Families, 423—976 souls. Artisans: Single Men and Heads of Families, 534: —1,257 souls. Miscellaneous: Single Men and Heads of Families, 457—1,058 souls.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,550 copies), t'i 10s.

Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington. -1906.

Price 3d.]

Date of Leaving. Steamer. Number of Souls. iNumoer Deolared Statute Amount of Adults. Ca P" al - Number of Statute Adults. Income. Amount paid to Shipping Companies. i 1905. April 6 „ 11 „ 20 May 4 18 „ 24 June 1 11 „ 15 29 July 11 13 „ 27 Aug. 10 „■ 24 Sept. 8 11 21 Oct. 6 8 „ 11 21 Nov. 2 11 „ 16 „ 30 Dec. 11 „ 16 30 1906. Jan. 11 11 25 27 Feb. 8 „ 11 „ 22 March 3 8 „ 22 ... Karamea ... Ayrshire ... ... Kaikoura ... Aotea ... Eimutaka ... Eippingham Grange ... ... Ionic ... Essex ... Tongariro ... j Athenic ... i Drayton Grange ... Turakina ... Corinthic ... Paparoa ... Kumara ... I Ruapehu ... I Morayshire ... ... Gothic ... Eimutaka ... Wakanui ... ; Banffshire ... ... Ionic ... i Tongariro ... Somerset ... Athenic ... Turakina . ... Ayrshire ... Aotea ... I Paparoa ... Corinthic .... Essex ... : Ruapehu ... Suffolk ... Gothic ... Dorset .... Eimutaka ... Drayton Grange ... Ionic ... I Tongariro 35 2 60 42 3 177 14 47 125 9 68 175 73 138 26 19 119 24 1 17 293 24 21 314 70 36 29 52 £ 30 J 5,280 2 350 7 375 49$ 3,045 32} 2,741 3 100 148 9,322 10$ 200 37f 2,016 110 6,558 8 300 551 2,040 144 7,220 65 2,838 113 4,844 23 851 16$ j 310 99* I 4,407 20" 782 1 50 15 840 244 14,303 21$ I 616 16f ; 275 2711 ; 12,968 58f ! 3,230 30i j i ( oi5 26i j 1,485 43 2,400 £ 150 452 70 213 95 202 117 14 £ 122 8 28 198 129 12 592 42 151 440 32 222 576 260 452 92 66 398 80 4 60 97(3 86 67 1,085 235 121 105 172 49 23 110 ■77 140 129 6 45 J 44 8 64 2 107 44 104J : 6,26] 3$ 490 39$ ; 2,962 1 50 38 1,394 4J 220 52$ : 3,097 2 110 89 3,890 38| 970 248 419 14 158 4 152 17 210 356 155 Totals 2,469 2,076 : 110,204 1,960 8,304