HEAVY FALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1932, Page 7

HEAVY FALL.

Migration from Britain Shows Large Decrease. INWARD FLOW GREATER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 21. In view of the uncertainty of the present position and pending the result of the deliberations at Ottawa, the annual report of the Overseas Settlement Committee, now issued by the Dominions Office, makes no attempt to predict the future of migration.

Last year was a bad one for migration, and for the first recorded time the outward flow of persons proceeding from the United Kingdom to settle permanently overseas fell short of the inward flow of persons intending to remain in the United Kingdom.

The inward balance, however, was not due to any appreciable increase in the number returning, but to the heavy fall in the numbers going "overseas. The ■outward figures fell from 136,777 in 1921 to 27,151 in 1931. On the other hand, the number who returned in 1931 was 53,161, while the corresponding figure in 1921 was practically identical, namely, 52,546.

The report makes a comparison of the economic conditions in the last 60 years, which indicates that the rise and fall in migration correspond closely with the degree of prosperity or depression throughout the world generally. Wheu economic conditions are favourable migration is stimulated and unfavourable economic conditions are reflected in a falling off of migration.