A.—7

22

Under the nomination system assisted passages arc available between the United Kingdom anel New Zealand at the following rates : — Third Class: Six-berth. Four-berth. Two-berth. £ a. £ s. £ s. Domestics . . . . .. .. . . Free Free Free Farm labourers (single; men and married couples not accompanied by children) . . .. 11 0 13 0 1.7 0 Single adults and married couples not accompanied by children .. .. ' .. .. .. 16 10 18 10 22 10 Married, adults, widowers, widows, or wives proceeeling to join husbands. (All such migrants must be accompanied by at least one child under nineteen years of age) .. .. .. .. .. 11 0 13 0 1.7 0 Juveniles (boys and girls, twelve but not seventeen years of age) .. . . . . .. .. Free 2 0 6 0 Boys and girls, seventeen but not nineteen years of age 510 710 11 10 Children under twelve years of age .. .. .. Free 10 3 0 Note.- If nominees unable to provide passage-money, the Imperial and New Zealanel Governments will advance same by way of loan subject to High Commissioner's approval in e;ach case. The same procedure could bo adopted with regard to girls between sixteen and eighteen ; they would be; readily absorbed by farmers' wives unable to obtain help. Junior immigration would place workers of both, sexes in this Dominion at an age when they could most readily adapt themselves to local conditions and learn the methods prevailing in their new homeland. The Dominion woulei also get the longest working life from such immigrants as there woulel be no period of dependence —no childhood and no immediate old age. A gentleman well versed in New Zealand and her requirements, who is spending some time in England, recently wrote this to a friend in New Zealand : " Within the last few weeks I have myself visited and inspected Christ's Hospital Boys' School, wheire eight hundred boys arc boardeei and trained and educated. I was immensely impressed with the class of boy attending this school, and also with the comprehensive education given. The school course includes an elementary training in woodwork and metal-work, while there is attached to the school a training-farm to which are allotted boys showing an inclination to take up farming. The school course of training is varied in the case of these boys, special attention being directed to subjects likely to be of use to them in after-life. lam sure that a very excellent selection could, be made by co-operation with the headmaster of this and other similar schools, and I should have no hesitation in helping in the selection if farmers in New Zealand were prepared to undertake to offer them employment. The provisions of the Master and Apprentices Amendment Act, 1920, might, I think, with advantage be put into operation with respect to these boys. When at Christ's Hospital recently I talked with two boys who will be leaving for Ne;w Zealand sheirtly to take up employment offered by Mr. Vernon Reed, and I can say with confidence that Mr. Reed will have no cause to regret his choice. I feel very strongly that the migration of boys of this class offers the best possible return for money expended in augmenting the population of Ne;w Zealand. The boys are drawn very largely from good middle-class families and arc certain to make; good loyal citizens." Another enthusiast from London writes : "I am informed by the Headmasters' Association that it is constantly receiving large numbers of applications from boys anxious to migrate to the Dominion, which are referred to them by headmasters of various public schools. In view of the lack of facilities for such boys to proceed to New Ze;aland at present unless they have friends or relatives resident there, headmasters are diverting the attention of the boys to Canada or Australia, as emigration to New Zealand cannot be arranged at present. It appears to me very unfortunate that such a course shouhl be necessary, as lam sure these boys would be a valuable asset to the Dominion. I may mention that I am informed by the association that almost half the total number of applications received from boys desirous of emigrating state that the boy would prefer to proceed to New Zealanel. I feel sure that it woulei be of great advantage to the Dominion if some satisfactory arrangements could be come to which would enable a certain number of these boys to proceed to the Dominion." One of the ba.it assets this young country can have is an influx of healthy lads from crowded Britain, where, owing to the pressure of eiver-population and over-competition, these young lives cannot blossom forth into the beings they are meant to be. Junior immigration is a direct response to what humanity pleads for and patriotism wants —-viz., giving the younger generation a chance. APPENDIX G. The New Zealand Immigration and Land-settlement League. Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, N.Z. Sir, — The policy of the New Zealand Immigration and Land-settlement League, calling lor intelligent and progressive land-settlement methods, has been recently endorsed by a conference, at which the following were represented : The Auckland Harbour Board ; the Auckland Chamber of Commerce ; New Zealand Farmers' Union (Auckland Province) ; Auckland Provincial Employers' Association (Incorporated); Auckland Provincial Industrial Association; Land and Estate Agents and Land Auctioneers' Association of Auckland ; and a copy of the resolutions passed in attached hereto.