EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9431, 31 January 1921, Page 5

EMPIRE SETTLEMENT.

CONFERENCE IN BRITAIN. VARIOUS SCHEMES DISCUSSED. LONDON, January 28. Lord Milner presided at the Jimpire Settlement Conference. Sir James Allen represented JNew Zealand, Hon. E. Millen, Australia and Sir George Perley, Canada. The imperial Treasury was also represented. South Africa was not represented. The Agents-Gen-eral of Australian States and Canadian provinces are not participating, leaving their representation to the Dominions. Lord Milner explained that the conference related co State-aided Empire settlement. Ei-igration was a wrong term to use ii: this connection. The proposals ©mbracad the agenda- previously announced, and related to the transhipment ot -British population within the confines of the Jiimpire. They had 'no; relation .to .emigration, which, strictly interpreted^ .meaift losing the Jimpire population to foreign countries; it was suggested thai this was a matter calling tor the co-opera^ tion of the whole of the Empire^ Governments. ■ Sir James Allen agreed, but deprecated spasmodic emigration. He aavocated a regularised continuity. The Hon. E. D. Millen elaborated a scheme under which the British and Australian Governments would co-oper-, ate m the provision of finance m the shape of a loan, under which selected areas of Crown lands would be developed by means of railways, roads and bridges, water supply and other works j on which the settlers would be employed contemporaneously clearing, tilling and cropping the larfds. Mr Millen pointed out that the greater part •of suitable ( lands were already freehold, / and to resume possession of them would be costly, whereas suitable Crown lands were inaccessible, hence the necessity of railways and other amenities accompanying settlement. He suggested the Burnett River, Queensland, as a suitable district to inaugurate the scheme. . The Treasury representative replied m the negative, pending fuller details. Subsequently Sir George Perley said that Canada was sympathetic towards Empire settlement, but preferred to adopt a waiting attitude for the present. The conference adjourned till Monday, when Colonel Axnery (Undersecretary for the Colonies) will preside.