H—ll

with the New Zealand Government that they will engage in approved employment for a period of two years after arrival here. The trades and occupations for which workers have been accepted under the schemes comprise : Men Coal-mining. Panel-beaters. Sawmilling and forestry. Other skilled engineering tradesmen. Unskilled manual workers. Printing tradesmen. Cable-jointers. Footwear operatives. Moulders. Experienced farm workers. Boilermakers. Prison warders. Fitters and turners. Carpenters and other tradesmen for Sheet-metal workers. Public Works Department. Coppersmiths. Hydro-electric-development works. Women Shorthand-typists. Woollen-mill workers. Nursing and domestic staff for hos- Men's clothing machinists. pitals. Printing-works employees. Footwear operatives. General factory workers. Domestic workers for hotels, hostels, &c. (2) Financial assistance has been restricted to single people, largely on account of our present housing difficulties and the continuing shortage of passenger-carrying shipping on the New Zealand run. The immediate objective of immigration policy has been the utilization of the limited available shipping in such a manner that the maximum possible relief can be afforded undermanned essential industries without aggravating the housing shortage. The advertising for and selection of immigrants is in the hands of an Immigration Branch established at the High Commissioner's Office in London, and this Branch selects young people on a basis of occupational suitability. All Government-assisted immigrants are required to undergo a comprehensive medical examination before embarkation. The occupational categories to be included within the schemes and the target figures for each group are fixed by Government in consultation with the Immigration Advisory Council. (3) The Immigration Advisory Council was established in April, 1947, for the purpose of providing a widely representative national body which would advise the Minister of Immigration on immigration matters and aid the Department in the implementing of immigration policy. The Permanent Head of the Department (or his Deputy) is chairman of the Council, which includes representation from the New Zealand. Federation of Labour, the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, the New Zealand Employers' Federation, the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the New Zealand Workers' Union, the Returned Services' Association, and the Rehabilitation Board. In addition to these representatives, two women members appointed by Government have seats on the Council. (4) The realization of the need for non-governmental welfare activities to aid the assimilation into the community of new settlers led in October, 1947, to the establishment (in each of the twenty-six centres where the Department has district offices) of Immigration Welfare Committees. The function of these Committees is to co-ordinate welfare activities in respect of new settlers, whether Government assisted or not. The Committees include representatives of the Churches, local bodies, the Returned Services' Association, employers' and workers' associations, the Federated Farmers, and other

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