DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1910 Session I, D-09

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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

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

Sm, — . Immigration Department, Wellington, 13th June, 1910. Herewith I have the honour to submit the annual report upon the immigration which has taken place into New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year 1909-10. I have, &c, Wm. C. Kensington, The Hon. George Fowlds. Minister of Immigration. Under-Secretary.

REPORT. During the year ended 31st March, 1910, the number of persons who arrived from the United Kingdom totalled 9,250, consisting of 7,569 adults and 1,681 children. These figures include both those who made their own arrangements and those who obtained fares at reduced rates. The number of persons who were assisted by the High Commissioner amounted to 2,672 souls, and they were provided with passages by the steamers enumerated in the accompanying schedule. The schedule also furnishes the number of such persons carried in each vessel, and the amount of capital known to be possessed by them. The number of domestic workers assisted was 615. The number of souls nominated by relatives in the Dominion during the year was 1,341, and the amount of money deposited by the nominators towards the cost of the passages of these persons was £11,339. A proportion of the nominations are received from husbands on behalf of their wives and families. These men come first and see for themselves whether they are satisfied with the conditions existing, and obtain employment. Three hundred and sixty-eight wives, nominated by their husbands, and accompanied by 672 children, embarked during the year. It was decided during the autumn of 1909 that the time when the approved agriculturists should arrive in the Dominion be restricted to the early summer. In accordance with this decision the first boat that arrived with assisted agricultural immigrants was the s.s. " lonic," which reached Wellington on the Ist November. The last vessel was the s.s. " Arawa," on the 25th January, 1910. By adopting this procedure every facility was given to the farm-worker to get accustomed to his new surroundings before farming operations were discontinued for the season. The same principle is again being adopted for the year 1910-11, and the first vessel to leave the United Kingdom with assisted farmers will do so in order that the passengers may arrive here in the early summer as before. It was not necessary to make any restriction in regard to the time for the arrival of domestic workers, or of wives nominated by husbands. These still come out by the most convenient vessel. It is gratifying to know from the medical inspections that the persons who are being assisted by the Government are in possession of good health and are likely to make satisfactory colonists. The Medical Inspecting Officer is careful in his inspections in order that unfit persons may be prevented from sailing. In this connection it may be well to state that the medical examination of the persons who pass through the High Commissioner's office is more rigorous than for those who make their own arrangements with the shipping companies. The object of our officer's inspection is different from that of the Examiner for the Board of Trade as the latter is concerned only in excluding from sailing all persons suffering from any infectious disease. To discover whether such persons are constitutionally sound is left to the medical inspection at the port of arrival. There have been cases where some member of the family has been suffering from consumption. This has been concealed until the inspection on board the vessel, and it is very trying to all persons concerned that the people should be turned away at the last moment. It is much better for intending emigrants to be quite candid as to the state of their health, as when the deception is discovered a great deal of expense has been incurred which might have been avoided. As an illustration of the value of our Medical Officer's inspection I furnish the following extract from his report of the sth March last: " Last month a case was referred to me. The proposed emigrant was a ciieesemaker who suffered from tubercle of the right forearm. He had arranged to take up work in the Taranaki District as a cheesemaker. This man could easily have passed any inspecting officer, because apparently he was quite well. I advised that the man should not go, because, although he did manage to pass the Port Health Officer, I explained that as soon as the manager of the cheese-factory saw the condition of his arm he would most likely have refused to allow him to work." This man, who intended paying his own way to the Dominion, decided to act upon the officer's advice, and refrained from emigrating.

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Return showing the Names of the Vessels which carried Passengers at Reduced Rates from the United Kingdom for the Year ended 31st March, 1910; and also the Number of Persons granted Passages, together with the Amount of Capital possessed by them.

Summary of Persons who embarked for New Zealand from the United Kingdom from 1st April, 1909, to 31st March, 1910.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,560 copies), _l 18s.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9lo.

Price :id.

Date of Leaving. Steamer. Souls. Adults. Declared Amount of j Capital. Amount of Passagemoney paid by High Commissioner. 1909. April 2 ... Tainui 20 ... Wakanui ... 27 ... Morayshire ... 30 ... , Ionic May 13 ... Turakina „ 28 ... Athenic 29 ... Devon June 10 ... Tongariro ... 26 Corinthic ... „ 26 ... Cornwall July 8 ... j Paparoa „ 23 ... Arawa 24 ... Fifeshire Aug. 6 ... Ruapehu 20 ... Tainui 21 ... Drayton Grange Sept. 2 ... Rimutaka ... 17 ... Ionic „ 18 ... Sussex „ 30 ... Turakina Oct. 15 ... Athenic 16 ... Nairnshire ... 16 Papanui „ 29 ... Tongariro Nov. 12 ... Corinthic 13 ... Morayshire ... „ 25 ... Ruahine Dec. 10 ... Arawa 23 Ruapehu 1910. Jan. 7 ... Tainui „ 8 ... Cornwall „ 20 ... Rimutaka ... Feb. 4 ... | Ionic 5 ... Fifeshire 17 ... Turakina March 4 ... Athenic 5 ... Drayton Grange 17 ... Tongariro ... 85 45 47 171 55 167 29 73 154 23 61 107 45 57 137 9 22 245 8 22 230 8 44 24 230 41 107 133 10 39 8 30 75 13 36 68 5 9 65* 40 38} 136* 45} 129} 24J 58} 129f 15} 47} «6f 37J 47} 110f 8 20 204 8 20 205 7 32} 214 193* 27J 86f 106f 71 31} 74 23* 49* : 114 26} 50f 4 74 * I 433 1,763 279 2,722 190 597 183 1,795 1,578 152 598 i 671 2,217 162 949 2 71 3,142 19 536 3,430 70 336 63 5,721 126 916 4,562 82 109 2 573 227 19 25 59 9 £ 262 160 153 546 181 517 99 233 519 61 189 343 151 189 443 32 80 816 32 80 820 28 129 86 774 111 347 427 30 125 30 94 198 46 105 203 16 30 Totals 2,672 2,672 2,171} 2,171} 34,688 34,688 8,685

Farmers. Miscellaneous. ! Domestics. Single Men and Heads ,, , Single Men and Heads of „ , of Families. N " lls - Families. SoW8 ' Total Number of Souls. Approved by High Commissioner. 326 | 667 | 451 | .. | I 1,118 Authorised by Immigration Department in AVw Zealand. 81 158 164 448 1,232 1,554 ! i 106 825 615 448 1,232 825 615 448 1,232 2,672 2,672