DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1940 Session I, H-11b

H.—llB

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

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

Department of Labour, and Immigration, Wellington, 12th July, 1940. Sib, — Herewith I have the honour to submit the annual report on the immigration activities of the Department during the year 1939-40. I have, &c., Henry E. Moston, Permanent Head. The Hon. the Minister of Immigration.

REPORT. Mention was made in last year's report of the scheme to accelerate the Government's housing programme by advancing fares, where necessary, to selected skilled building tradesmen to come from Australia and the United Kingdom to New Zealand. Three hundred and eighty-four tradesmen arrived from Australia, and favourable progress was being made under the scheme in the United Kingdom, 234 tradesmen having arrived, when, owing to the outbreak of war, it was found necessary to postpone the departure of further parties. The classification of the tradesmen who did arrive is as follows : — Carpenters .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 391 Painters .. . . .. . . . . . . 76 Plasterers .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 Bricklayers .. . . .. .. .. .. 45 Plumbers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Electricians .. . . .. .. . . .. 10 Roof-tilers . . . . .. . . . . . . 10 Cabinetmakers .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 618 Apart from the above, there has been little change in the position regarding assisted migration since the last report. During the year assisted passages were granted to eight migrants (last year thirteen), and in each of these cases there were special circumstances which warranted the granting of assistance. In September last advice was received from the Government of the United Kingdom to the effect that, in view of the outbreak of war, it had been decided that financial assistance from the United Kingdom's funds to enable persons to settle overseas must, in genera], be terminated. As a matter of convenience, and as there is no separate Department of Immigration, details of expenditure in connection with immigration have been included in the annual report of the Department of Labour, H.-11.

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