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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, D-09

D.—9.

1907. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

Sib, — Department of Immigration, Wellington, Ist June, 1907. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report upon immigration, conveying the information as to the number of arrivals from the Ist April, 1906, to the 31st March, 1907; the capital they possessed; their classification (such as farmer, navvy, artisan, and domestic); and also showing the extent of the nominations received from persons in New Zealand on behalf of relatives whom they wish to bring out to the colony. I have, &c, William C. Kensington, Under-Secretary. The Hon. James McGowau, Minister of Immigration, Wellington. REPORT. In last year's report a statement was embodied, giving the general scope of the High Commissioner's powers and duties in connection with the despatch of emigrants from the United Kingdom. Since that report no change has been made in the modus operandi, so far as this Department is aware, unless the recent Conference of Prime Ministers in London has resulted in any further developments, as one of the subjects under discussion was that of emigration. The appended return shows that a steady, though moderate, stream of immigration has continued to our shores, 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 lands 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. Arrivals of assisted immigrants in the colony during the past year were by means of forty steamships of the various shipping lines running to New Zealand, who landed in good health 3,712 souls, equal to 3,141 J statute adults. These possessed amongst them capital to the extent of £114,689, and an annual income in addition 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 the North Island Main Trunk Railway line, the total being 279, who, with their 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 passages to this class of settler. Domestic servants to the number of 254 were granted assisted passages, and duly arrived in the colony. Geneeal Chakactee of Immigbants. The Immigration officers (Messrs. March and Danby) have boarded all the steamers as they arrived, meeting the immigrants and affording them counsel and advice, where desired, and also assisting them in procuring employment by taking them to the local office of the Labour Bureau, at which place they have invariably been aided to find work by the officials. The officers report that all the immigrants have been of a very superior class, and, from the numbers whom I have met personally and discussed land questions with, I am convinced 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. Nomination of Relatives by Pebsons eesident in New Zealand. As briefly indicated in- last year's report, the Government has extended the benefits of assisted passages to those persons who, whilst residing in New Zealand, have hitherto been unable to bring out their wives and children or other near relatives, rightly judging that persons are much more likely to become permanent and contented settlers when reunited to those from whom they had parted in the older land. Relatives to the number of 383J statute adults have been nominated in New Zealand, and passage-money to the amount of £3,782 10s. has been paid to this office for that purpose. I am convinced that this concession has been of great benefit in reuniting separated families. Geneeal . Whilst the major portion of the correspondence with emigrants is carried on by the High Commissioner in London, yet the letters received from and written to inquirers and despatched

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from this office numbered 2,826 during the past twelve months. The High Commissioner's Office has been kept fully supplied with copies of " The Immigrants' Guide and Settlers' Handbook," for which there has been great demand, and also with up-to-date copies of the " Crown Lands Guide/ It may be interesting to add that, in addition to the settlers reaching our shores from the United Kingdom, a very large and increasing number of applications for assisted passages and for information as to the lands available for settlement in New Zealand, &c, have been received from persons living in Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia, &c, and invariably, whilst affording complete particulars and details as to the capabilities of New Zealand and the prospects of intending settlers therein, it has been pointed out that, as the countries referred to are seeking to induce immigration to their own shores, it would savour of an unfriendly act on the part of the New Zealand Government if it were in any way to countenance the granting of assisted passages from those countries to this colony. Such applicants have, therefore, teen always advised that assistance in this manner is not given by the Government, except to emigrants from the United Kingdom, and their requests have consequently been declined.

Return showing the Names of the Vessels which carried Passengers at Reduced Rates from the United Kingdom for the Year ending 31st March, 1907; and also the Number of Persons granted Passages, together with the Amount of Capital possessed by them.

Summary of Persons who have been approved for Passages at Eeduced Bates for the Year ending 31st March, 1907.—Farmers : Single men and heads of families, 466—853 souls. Navvies : Single men and heads of families, 279 —507 souls. Domestics: 254 souls. Artisans and miscellaneous : Single men and heads of families : 841—2,095 souls. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,500 copies), £1 12s. 6d.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o7.

Price 3d.]

Date of Leaving. Steamer. Souls. Adults. Declared Amount of Capital. Income. Amount of Passagemoney paid by Hign Commissioner. 1906. April 2 5 . 19 „ 28 May 3 „ 17 „ 26 31 June 14 . 23 . 28 July 12 21 „ 26 Aug. 10 . 18 „ 23 Sept. 6 . 15 21 Oct. 4 13 19 Nov. 1 . 13 „ 16 29 Dec. 3 , 14 „ 29 1907. Jan. 5 . io ■ 24 Feb. 2 8 . 21 March 2 8 . 21 „ 30 Oswestry Grange Waiwera ... Turakina ... Devon Athenic Paparoa Morayshire Corinthic ... Ruapehu ... Ayrshire Mamari Rimutaka ... Somerset ... Kumara Tongariro ... Suffolk Ionic Turakina ... Dorset Athenic Paparoa Everton Grange Corinthic ... Ruapehu ... Oswestry Grange Gothic Rimutaka ... Surrey Kumara Tongariro ... 25 93 136 50 270 62 51 325 145 75 124 134 52 99 86 71 270 34 75 235 49 58 339 51 33 142 68 5 32 44 24 80* 12l| 238f 57 41* 2681 122 68 99 1054 45J 83f 744 61 2264 28f 62J 198J 35 50J 284 444 28J 122 54£ 4 25 38 £ 488 1,131 3,022 547 6,315 1,230 478 9,724 11,916 671 2,040 3,475 1,112 2,228 3,161 1,670 12,148 707 1,518 6,550 2,680 869 13,560 1,569 832 5,828 1,460 2 671 1,685 £ ibo o0 435 687 236 £ 86 322 487 181 955 228 166 1,0*8 488 276 396 422 182 335 298 244 906 115 249 793 140 201 1,136 174 113 488 217 16 100 152 "40 "70 40 Ayrshire Ionic Turakina ... Morayshire Athenic ... Paparoa Suffolk Corinthic ... Ruapehu ... Fifeshire 22 100 42 9 88 42 31 79 40 26 21 91* 334 8 79 35 20J 66 32 204 530 5,031 997 95 3,770 1,073 160 2,770 560 416 182 22 30 84 366 134 32 320 140 81 264 128 82 36 60 Totals 3,712 3,141* 114,689 1,988 12,570