RURAL MIGRATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 11

RURAL MIGRATION.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF BRITISH DEPOPULATION. (By Cable.—Preij Association. —Copyright. LONDON, December 18. A report on migration from the rural districts of England and Wales, prepared by tho Board of Agriculture at the request of the Dominions' Commission, states that agriculture is not an expanding industry, while the area of farmed land is steadily declining. Low wages are not so much the cause of discontent as lack of opportunity. The normal movement to the towns is largely supplemented by emigration to oversea Dominions. A freer life, easier facilities to become landowners, and a wider scope for energy and enterprise appear to be tho chief inducements. (Received December 20th 12.15 a.m.) The report of the Board of Agriculture on rural depopulation states that since 1901 about 1,060,000 acres havo passed out of tillage, and 303,000 out of cultivation. This is attributed to emigration to Canada and Australia, duo to tho activity of agents and the advertising of allurements of colonial life. Low wages in rural districts aro amongst tho chief causes, but there is no evidence that emigration is greatest whero the wages are least. It adds that thero is a general deficiency of skilled farm hands. Any sharpening of intelligence due to improved literary education will not compensate for lack of technical training. Moreover, training farms in agriculture are being neglected by thoso who still seek employment on the land.