DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION. (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1934 Session I, D-09

D.—9.

1934. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION. (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

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

Sir, —■ Department of Immigration, 30th June, 1934. Herewith I have the honour to submit the annual report on the immigration which has taken place into New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year 1933-34. I have, &c., Henry E. Moston, Acting Permanent Head. The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Immigration, Wellington.

REPORT.

The total number of arrivals from the United Kingdom and Ireland during the year ended 31st March, 1934, was 468 (199 males and 269 females). Out of tiiis total 4 (a wife and three children) were assisted by the Imperial and New Zealand Governments ; the family was nominated last year by the husband and the nomination was approved as a special case. The nominees arrived by the " lonic " on the 19th May, 1933, and proceeded to Palmerston North. During the year under review only one nomination was approved. The activities of the Department, apart from those incidental to the handling of inquiries, were confined to operations in respect of recovery of passage-money loans and refunds due by migrants on account of non-fulfilment of the five-years residence regulation. There are signs of a distinct revival in interest in Empire migration both in the United Kingdom and the Dominions, and this interest is likely to be intensified in the near future, due in some respects to the fact that the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 expires in 1937. Many schemes have been suggested, but, so far as this Dominion is concerned, it would appear none that has come under notice is as suitable for this Dominion as the nomination system so successfully adopted during past years, and particularly since the passing of the above Act. The effect of the Government's policy of restriction, in respect of assisted migration, which was first adopted in May, 1927, is illustrated by the figures hereunder, embracing the financial years 1926-1927 to 1933-1934, inclusive : —

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (465 copies), £1 2s. 6d.

By Authority : G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 934.

Price 3d.]

Year. Assisted Migrants. Full-fare Migrants. 1926-1927 .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,239 3,704 1927-1928 .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,822 2,375 1928-1929 .. .. .. .. .. •• 1,968 1,846 1929-1930 .. .. .. .. •• •• 1,790 1,579 1930-1931 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,233 1,377 1931-1932 .. .. .. .. .. .. 290 1,968 1932-1933 .. .. .. .. • • • • 56 570 1933-1934 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 464