DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1914 Session I, D-09

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1914. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

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

Sic, — Department of Immigration, Wellington, Ist September, 1914. 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 1913-14. I have, &c, J. Eman Smith, The Hon. the Minister of Immigration. Dnder-Secretary.

EEPOBT. The total number of arrivals in New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st March, 1914, was 12,266 persons, consisting of 9,667 adults and 2,599 children. Out of the total number of persons arriving—namely, 12,266 —5,064 were assisted to New Zealand by the Government. The number of assisted immigrants is made up of persons nominated from New Zealand and of persons applying themselves for assisted passages in London. The declared capital brought out to the Dominion by the latter amounted to £39,701 6s. When immigrants are nominated from New Zealand no declared capital is required. During the year thirty-three steamers brought out assisted immigrants as follows : —

This total of 5.064 persons is made up of 1,097 men, 2,080 women, and 1,887 children. These people were booked to the following provinces:—Auckland, 1,393; Canterbury, 891; Hawke's

Arrived New Zealand. Steamers. Number assisted. Arrived New Zealand. Steamers. Number assisted. 1913. April May Ionic Euapehu Athenic Paparoa Corinthic Eemuera Arawa Euahine Kent Suffolk Waimana Eotorua Westmeath ... Ionic Euapehu Athenic Morayshire ... 235 14 209 103 262 143 136 163 4 2 108 122 5 225 94 282 15 1913. October Brought forward ... Eimutaka Dorset Corinthic Eemuera Turakina Arawa Eotorua Euahine Tainui Mamari 2,122 84 128 280 87 31 245 101 130 247 507 ir • • • November... June July u December... ft ... „ ... tt ' * ' August 1914. September ... January ... February ... Ayrshire Ionic Euapehu Eangatira ... Suffolk Athenic 105 381 77 204 131 204 ir • • • March October Carried forward ... 2,122 Total ... 5,064

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Bay, 407; Marlborough, 24; Nelson, 144; Otago, 401; Southland, 181; Taranaki, 171; Wellington, 1,339 ; Westland, 113 : total, 5,064. The following summary shows the number in each class that came to the Dominion during the year : —

The distribution of the domestics and of farm labourers throughout the Dominion, according to bookings, is as follows :— T-, Farm Province. Domestics. Labourers . Auckland ... ... ... ... ' ... ... 281 188 Canterbury ... .. ... ... ... ... 161 261 , • Hawke'sßay... ... ... ... ... ... 128 70 i Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 14 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 7 - ; Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 96 79 Southland ... ... ... ... ... ... 31 42 Taranaki '... ... ... ... 20 39 Wellington ... ... ... ... .... ... 387 232 Westland ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 11 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 1,138 943 Assisted immigration has been in existence since the year 1905, and the following table shows the results from that year until 1914. In 1913 the Government directed that any person residing in the Dominion should have the right to nominate any near relatives by blood or marriage who are resident in the United Kingdom. Residents in the Dominion may still nominate, irrespective of relationship, any specified domestic worker or farm labourer residing in the United Kingdom. Nominated immigrants of either class are only granted assisted passages after passing the medical examination prescribed, and after satisfying in other respects the requirements of the High Commissioner's Department in London. The Government has directed that nominated relations by blood or marriage must be provided with employment by the relatives nominating them in this Dominion, and this requirement has been strictly adhered to. The precautions taken by the High Commissioner in London to prohibit the coming into the Dominion of immigrants who, by health or character, might prove undesirable colonists are stringent, but there is considerable difficulty in preventing evasion.

Table showing the Number of Assisted Immigrants introduced into the Dominion during the past Ten Years.

It will be seen from the above table that a steady increase in the nominated passages is taking place, a fact which clearly shows that the prospects for newcomers are becoming more appreciated by our own people as well as by the new arrivals. Under this scheme the nominators* have to

Class. Applied in LondoD. Nominated from New Zealand. Total. Domestics Farmers and farm labourers Wives of farmers and farm labourers Children of farmers and farm labourers Separated relatives — (a.) Men (6.) Women ... (c.) Children 1,006 720 170 413 132 223 1,138 943 583 154 772 , 1,474 2,400 » Totals ... 2,309 2,755 5,064

Year. Applied in London. Nominated from New Zealand. Total. ■ 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 2,822 1,118 1,327 1,728 1,797 2,309 2,131 1,554 1,297 1,572 2,131 2,755 1,751 2,469 3,712 3,104 4,953 2,672 2,624 3,300 3,928 5,064

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guarantee to find employment for their nominees, and it has resulted in a steady stream of immigrants of the best type. . . The rates for nominated passages are as follows : Second class, £'27 ; third class (two-berth), £12 ; third class (four-berth), £10. ; v Domestic Servants. The number of domestic servants obtainable is far less than the demand, and special efforts are being made to considerably increase the previous numbers. The Government some time ago agreed to advance not only a greater part than formerly, but in some cases the whole, of the passage-money, such increase in advances to be repaid by instalments. Arrangements have been considered with the shipping companies for the provision of special accommodation for this class of immigrant, so that they may be berthed within one compound, ensuring strict privacy for the domestics, and enabling the matrons to have fuller control. The Government has, during the last two years, urged upon the shipping companies the necessity for such provision, but has been unable so far to obtain the companies' consent. Farm Boys, During the year the Government initiated the scheme of immigration of farm boys. The first party of fifty arrived by the s.s. " Ayrshire " at Auckland on the 20th January, 1914, and the second party of fifty arrived at the same place on the Ist March. Both parties have given general satisfaction. Quite 60 per cent, of the boys possess a rudimentary knowledge of farming, whilst the remainder —the younger lads —possess the physique necessary to fit them for learning farmwork in New Zealand. The farmers employing the boys advanced part of the passage-money (£8) to bring them out, the Government paying the difference under its contract with the shipping companies. The £8 advanced by the farmer is being repaid by the boys out of wages earned. At the end of May, 1914, eleven " Ayrshire" boys had repaid their passage-money, one boy was made a present of his passage-money by his employer, and thirty-four boys had to cheir credit sums accumulated of over £4 each. The wages being earned and received by the lads at the end of May were as follows : Two receiving £1 ss. per week, without clothes; three receiving £1 per week, without clothes ; two receiving 18s. per week, without clothes; twelve receiving 15s. per week, without clothes; two receiving 12s. 6d. per week, without clothes; one receiving 15s. per week, with clothes in addition; three receiving 12s. per week, with clothes in addition ; seven receiving 10s. per week, with clothes in addition ; one receiving Bs. 6d. per week, with clothes in addition ; thirteen receiving 7s. 6d. per week, with clothes in addition (one £5 bonus next Christmas) ; one dead ; one too ill to work since arrival; three left for other farms at higher wages : total, fifty-one. Of the farmers whose formal applications to employ farm-boy immigrants are recorded a considerable number have necessarily been disappointed in failing to obtain the services of any boy, and no difficulty is anticipated in placing further parties on their arrival. A copy of the agreement executed by the "Ayrshire" and "Suffolk" boys in London is appended. It will be observed that—(l) 7s. 6d. is fixed as a minimum weekly wage, not as the wage necessarily to be adopted; (2) the wage is in addition to board, lodging, and clothing ; (3) the engagement is to continue in employment for one year only. " Suffolk" Boys. One receiving £1 ss. per week, without clothes; one receiving £1 2s. 6d. per week, without clothes ; two receiving £1 per week, without clothes ; one receiving 18s. per week, without clothes ; two receiving 17s. 6d. per week, without clothes; fifteen receiving 15s. per week, without clothes (one to receive bonus, 6d. per cow per month); one receiving 14s. per week, without clothes; eight receiving 12s. 6d. per week, without clothes; one receiving 12s. per week, without clothes; one receiving 11s. per week, without clothes ; six receiving 10s. per week, without clothes (one made a present of £8 passage-money) ; four receiving 10s. per week, with clothes ; six receiving 7s. 6d. per week, with clothes ; two working for other farmers ; total, 51. Copy of Agreement. Address : To the High Commissioner for New Zealand*.l3 Victoria Street, London, S.W. Neio Zealand Government Schema for sending Farming Youths from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. In consideration of my having been granted a reduced-rate passage to New Zealand at a cost of £8, payment of which has been made by the High Commissioner for New Zealand on behalf of the New Zealand Government under the above scheme, I hereby undertake that, on my arrival in New Zealand, I will enter into an agreement with the Under-Secretary of the Department of Immigration in Wellington, acting for the New Zealand Government, to engage myself to work for a farmer in New Zealand who has been approved by the New Zealand Government, for a period of not less than one full year from the date on which I commence work for the farmer, at a wage of not less than 7s. 6d. per week, with board, lodging, and clothing. I am also willing to agree — That the Government shall place my wages in the Post Office Savings-bank, less a small amount per week to be paid to me for pocket-money, until I have completed my contract, when,

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tbe cost of my journey above mentioned having been refunded by me to the Government, the am ount to my credit is to be paid to me. That in the event of my not fulfilling my contract I will pay to the New Zealand Government the full cost of my journey to New Zealand at the ordinary rates now current, unless such nonfulfilment of the contract be caused by serious illness. That I will conform to the arrangements for the voyage to New Zealand which have been made by the High Commissioner in my interests. [Signature.] Signed in my presence, this day of , 191 . , Justice of the Peace for Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (650 copies), £2 ss.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l4.

Price 3d.]