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1910. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

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

Sm, — . Immigration Department, Wellington, 13th June, 1910. 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 1909-10. I have, &c, Wm. C. Kensington, The Hon. George Fowlds. Minister of Immigration. Under-Secretary.

REPORT. During the year ended 31st March, 1910, the number of persons who arrived from the United Kingdom totalled 9,250, consisting of 7,569 adults and 1,681 children. These figures include both those who made their own arrangements and those who obtained fares at reduced rates. The number of persons who were assisted by the High Commissioner amounted to 2,672 souls, and they were provided with passages by the steamers enumerated in the accompanying schedule. The schedule also furnishes the number of such persons carried in each vessel, and the amount of capital known to be possessed by them. The number of domestic workers assisted was 615. The number of souls nominated by relatives in the Dominion during the year was 1,341, and the amount of money deposited by the nominators towards the cost of the passages of these persons was £11,339. A proportion of the nominations are received from husbands on behalf of their wives and families. These men come first and see for themselves whether they are satisfied with the conditions existing, and obtain employment. Three hundred and sixty-eight wives, nominated by their husbands, and accompanied by 672 children, embarked during the year. It was decided during the autumn of 1909 that the time when the approved agriculturists should arrive in the Dominion be restricted to the early summer. In accordance with this decision the first boat that arrived with assisted agricultural immigrants was the s.s. " lonic," which reached Wellington on the Ist November. The last vessel was the s.s. " Arawa," on the 25th January, 1910. By adopting this procedure every facility was given to the farm-worker to get accustomed to his new surroundings before farming operations were discontinued for the season. The same principle is again being adopted for the year 1910-11, and the first vessel to leave the United Kingdom with assisted farmers will do so in order that the passengers may arrive here in the early summer as before. It was not necessary to make any restriction in regard to the time for the arrival of domestic workers, or of wives nominated by husbands. These still come out by the most convenient vessel. It is gratifying to know from the medical inspections that the persons who are being assisted by the Government are in possession of good health and are likely to make satisfactory colonists. The Medical Inspecting Officer is careful in his inspections in order that unfit persons may be prevented from sailing. In this connection it may be well to state that the medical examination of the persons who pass through the High Commissioner's office is more rigorous than for those who make their own arrangements with the shipping companies. The object of our officer's inspection is different from that of the Examiner for the Board of Trade as the latter is concerned only in excluding from sailing all persons suffering from any infectious disease. To discover whether such persons are constitutionally sound is left to the medical inspection at the port of arrival. There have been cases where some member of the family has been suffering from consumption. This has been concealed until the inspection on board the vessel, and it is very trying to all persons concerned that the people should be turned away at the last moment. It is much better for intending emigrants to be quite candid as to the state of their health, as when the deception is discovered a great deal of expense has been incurred which might have been avoided. As an illustration of the value of our Medical Officer's inspection I furnish the following extract from his report of the sth March last: " Last month a case was referred to me. The proposed emigrant was a ciieesemaker who suffered from tubercle of the right forearm. He had arranged to take up work in the Taranaki District as a cheesemaker. This man could easily have passed any inspecting officer, because apparently he was quite well. I advised that the man should not go, because, although he did manage to pass the Port Health Officer, I explained that as soon as the manager of the cheese-factory saw the condition of his arm he would most likely have refused to allow him to work." This man, who intended paying his own way to the Dominion, decided to act upon the officer's advice, and refrained from emigrating.