MIGRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 232, 1 October 1930, Page 7

MIGRATION.

Commissioner Lamb on Empire Settlement. SCHEME COMMENDED. LONDON, September 30. Commissioner David C. Lamb, director of emigration, Salvation Army, in a memorandum on migration prepared for consideration by the Imperial Conference, expresses the opinion that group settlement is the way out for the present generation. Mr. Lamb emphasises the importance of "a, better distribution of women throughout the Empire in view of their excess in numbers over men in Britain by 2,000,000, whereas men outnumber women in some parts of the Empire. ■ The commissioner suggests, in view of the necessity for a 10 or 20 years' programme, an amendment of the Empire Settlement Act and a modification of the "fifty-fifty" finance clause to permit Britain to bear tho whole or part of the cost of approved schemes with the Empire Settlement Board of five members appointed to carry out the Act. There has oeen too much talk about the high cost of emigration in the past, says Mr. Lamb. We should settle as many unemployed people as possible in agricultural regions in the Dominions and not worry too much about the cost, remembering that the Empire settlement experiment will pay better than paying out £1,000,000 a week in doles to the unemployed. The "Morning Post" commends Mr. Lamb's scheme and suggests a revival of chartered companies. The "News-Chronicle" expresses the opinion that the Liberals make a mistake is they assume that nothing can be done to develop the Imperial market. Britain cannot afford to sacrifice her vast foreign trade to a possible extension of her trade with the Dominions, but that is not to say she ought not to do all in her power to extend inter-Imperial trade.