D.—9

Session 11. ' 1923. 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, Wellington, 19th June, 1923. 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 1922-23. ; I have, &c., 11. D. Thomson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Immigration.

REPOET.

During the past year immigration from the United Kingdom under the present nominated policy has progressed satisfactorily. Special facilities have been offered for farmers and farm labourers and all classes of skilled artisans required for the secondary industries. This policy, under which the nominator gives an undertaking for maintenance and employment upon arrival of the nominees the Dominion, has solved the housing problem so far as the new arrivals are concerned. It has also ' resulted in a successful solution of one of the most important phases of any migration scheme—that ' of children and juveniles. Under this heading there is generally involved a considerable initial outlay., ' but under " nomination," firstly, there is no extra expense ; and, secondly, they are accompanied by ' their parents. The net result of the year's working shows that immigrants of this class comprise 33 per cent.'of • the whole volume of migrants. Since the expiry of the scheme for free passages granted to ex-members" * of the Imperial Forces and Navy, together with their dependants, under the Oversea ■ Settlement Committee, New Zealand has been unable to maintain her quota of immigrants —namely,' 10,000 per; annum— owing chiefly to the high rate of passage-money. However, the passing of the Empire , Settlement Act of 1922 by the Imperial Parliament will, it is anticipated, have the effectjof stimulating , the flow of British immigrants to our shores, and also of greatly reducing the cost of passage-money, ~',;, per capita. This Act is to make better provision for furthering British settlement in! His Majesty's., oversea dominions, and gives power to the Imperial Government to co-operate and carry out " agreed schemes" in association with a . Dominion Government. An "agreed scheme" may be either;. (1) development or settlement scheme, or (2) one for facilitating migration by assistance with passages, initial allowances, special training, or otherwise. It is laid down that no scheme shall be agreed to without the consent of the British Treasury, which must be satisfied that the Government concerned is making a proper contribution to the expenses of the scheme. The contribution of the British Government is not in any case to exceed one-half, and its liability to make contributjon not to • extend beyond a period of fifteen years after the passing of the Act. Acting under instructions the/; : , Department has for the present not entered into any agreement regarding a development or lahd T settlement scheme, but has concentrated all its efforts in obtaining the best possible assistance in passage-money.

I—L. 9.